Iran Rejects US Claims on Missile Programme, Calls Allegations 'Big Lies'

Iran has accused the United States of spreading “big lies” about its missile programme after President Donald Trump alleged that Tehran was developing weapons capable of striking the US. In his State of the Union address on Tuesday night, Trump said Iran has “already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas, and they’re working to build missiles that will soon reach” the US. He also described Iran as “the world’s number one sponsor of terror” and claimed that at least 32,000 protesters were killed during recent unrest in the country. Responding to the remarks, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei dismissed the allegations, without referring to Trump by name. “Whatever they’re alleging in regards to Iran’s nuclear programme, Iran’s ballistic missiles, and the number of casualties during January’s unrest, is simply the repetition of ‘big lies’,” Baqaei wrote in a post on X. Iran has consistently denied pursuing a nuclear weapon, insisting that uranium enrichment is its sovereign right. However, evidence gathered over the years indicates that Tehran has tested materials and components linked directly to the development of nuclear arms. Trump, meanwhile, offered little explanation for the significant buildup of US military forces in the Middle East — the largest since the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Although he has reportedly been weighing the option of military strikes against Iran in recent weeks, he devoted only about three minutes of his nearly two-hour address on Tuesday night to the issue of Tehran. With inputs from agencies Prime Minister Modi visits Israel to discuss deepening ties, with trade, defence, and AI on the agenda, and will address the Knesset. Israeli PM Netanyahu has proposed a "hexagon of alliances" including India, Israel, Greece, Cyprus, and other states to counter "radical" adversaries. Pakistan condemned the proposed alliance, calling it a threat to regional stability and Muslim unity, and is wary of India's potential participation. Get the latest stories delivered straight to your inbox.