Senior officials in the administration of Donald Trump have warned that Iran poses a significant threat to the United States, just hours before fresh negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme.
US and Iranian negotiators are currently meeting in Geneva for the third round of nuclear talks this year.
The discussions come amid one of Washington’s largest recent military build-ups in the Middle East, raising tensions ahead of any potential action against the Islamic Republic.
In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, Trump accused Iran of restarting its nuclear programme and working on missiles that could “soon” reach the United States. He also alleged Tehran was responsible for roadside bombings that killed American service members and civilians.
The president warned it would be a “very bad day” for Iran if a deal is not reached to resolve the long-running dispute over its nuclear activities. Iranian officials have previously threatened to target US bases in the region if attacked.
Speaking during a visit to St. Kitts and Nevis, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio reinforced the president’s position.
“After their nuclear program was obliterated, they were told not to try to restart it, and here they are,” Rubio said. “You can see them always trying to rebuild elements of it. They’re not enriching right now, but they’re trying to get to the point where they ultimately can.”
Trump ordered strikes on Iranian facilities last year, insisting they had “obliterated” the country’s nuclear infrastructure. However, administration officials have recently suggested Iran remains close to acquiring the capability to produce nuclear weapons.
Rubio further warned that Iran possesses a substantial stockpile of ballistic missiles that threaten US interests and is working on weapons capable of reaching the continental United States.
“Beyond just the nuclear program, they possess these conventional weapons that are solely designed to attack America and attack Americans if they so choose to do so…They already possess weapons that can reach much of Europe already now, as we speak,” Rubio said.
US Vice President JD Vance also stressed that Iran must never be allowed to obtain a nuclear weapon, underscoring Washington’s hardline stance ahead of the Geneva talks.