WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump claimed Tuesday that Iran is developing missiles capable of reaching the United States, escalating his rhetoric against Tehran during a record-length State of the Union address to Congress, Feb. 25, 2026.

In the hour-and-47-minute speech — the longest of its kind — Trump said Iran had already developed missiles that threaten Europe and U.S. bases overseas and was now working toward expanding its range.

“They’ve already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas, and they’re working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America,” Trump told a joint session of Congress. He did not provide evidence to support the claim.

The remarks came as U.S. naval and air forces continued to gather near Iran amid speculation about potential military action. Trump has increased pressure on Tehran in recent weeks, suggesting he could authorize a strike unless the regime agrees to a new nuclear deal with Washington.

Although there had been speculation that Trump might use the address to outline a case for war, he did not mention Iran until more than an hour into the speech and offered no specific timeline for possible action.

“My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy, but one thing is certain: I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror — which they are by far — to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said.

He accused Iran of ignoring U.S. warnings not to resume nuclear enrichment and weapons development following U.S. bombing campaigns last June targeting facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Esfahan.

Trump also repeated allegations that Tehran supports regional proxy groups and suppresses dissent at home.

“They’ve killed at least 32,000 protesters in their own country — they shot a lot of them and hung them,” he said, calling Iran’s leadership “some terrible people.”

The White House has not clarified whether immediate military action is under consideration or outlined specific objectives.

On Monday, the United States ordered nonessential diplomats and family members to depart the U.S. Embassy in Beirut, Lebanon, citing security concerns amid rising regional tensions. Lebanon has historically been a flashpoint for Iran-related retaliation because of Tehran’s support for Hezbollah.

The U.S. military has also repositioned forces, withdrawing from certain bases in northeastern Syria and Qatar as regional tensions intensify.

Trump previously threatened military action in January following a deadly crackdown on anti-regime protests in Iran but indicated Tehran could avert escalation by agreeing to a new nuclear agreement.