Trump: Iran building missiles that can reach US, cannot be allowed to have nuclear weapons

President Trump says during State of the Union address that he prefers to resolve dispute with Iran diplomatically but warns the Islamic Republic is developing missiles capable of striking the US, adding Iran can never be allowed to have nuclear weapons.

By David Rosenberg, World Israel News

President Donald Trump warned on Tuesday evening that Iran is working to develop long-range intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of striking the United States homeland and lamented the toll of the regime’s deadly crackdown on dissident protesters last month.

Speaking for one hour and 48 minutes, marking the longest State of the Union address in American history, the president mentioned the ongoing tensions between the US and Iran, including the possibility of a major conflict between the two countries.

The president emphasized that he hopes war can be avoided but added that the US must ensure that Iran does not acquire nuclear weapons.

“My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy,” Trump told a joint session of Congress. “But one thing is certain: I will never allow the world’s No. 1 sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to have a nuclear weapon, can’t let that happen.”

Trump accused Iran of attempting to reconstitute its nuclear program and of developing long-range ballistic missiles capable of reaching North America.

“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.”

“After Midnight Hammer, they were warned to make no future attempts to rebuild their weapons program, in particular nuclear weapons, yet they continue. They’re starting it all over.”

Trump lashed out at the Islamic Republic’s support for terrorist proxies, including attacks on American soldiers stationed in Iraq, and condemned the regime over the killing of protesters, estimating the number of fatalities at 32,000.

“Since they seized control of that proud nation 47 years ago, the regime and its murderous proxies have spread nothing but terrorism and death and hate. They’ve killed and maimed thousands of American service members and even millions of people with what’s called roadside bombs. They were the kings of the roadside bomb.”

“And just over the last couple of months with the protests, they’ve killed at least, it looks like, 32,000 protesters, 32,000 protesters in their own country. They shot them and hung them. We stopped them from hanging a lot of them with the threat of serious violence, but this is some terrible people.”