2026-02-25T06:10:11+00:00
font
Enable Reading Mode
A-
A
A+
Shafaq News- Washington
US President Donald Trump warned Iran on
Wednesday that Washington “will never allow” Tehran to acquire a
nuclear weapon, confirming that negotiations between the two sides remain
ongoing.
In a record-length State of the Union address
lasting nearly one hour and 50 minutes, Trump told lawmakers that his
administration is engaged in talks with Iran but would not tolerate any move
toward nuclear arms, though his preference is to “solve this problem through
diplomacy.”
Trump accused Iran of attempting to rebuild its
nuclear program after the joint US-Israeli strikes in June 2025 on Iranian
nuclear sites, adding that Tehran, the world’s number one “sponsor of terror,” was advancing missile capabilities that could
threaten Europe, US bases, and eventually American territory. Meanwhile, two
carrier strike groups –the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea and the USS
Gerald R. Ford transiting the Mediterranean– along with over 150 combat
aircraft now deployed across regional bases, constitute the largest US military
buildup in the Middle East since the 2003 invasion of Iraq, according to
vessel- and flight-tracking data.
The speech followed a briefing of senior
congressional leaders by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director John
Ratcliffe on the Iran situation ahead of the third round of US-Iran talks
scheduled for Thursday in Geneva. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi earlier said
that Tehran would “under no circumstances ever develop a
nuclear weapon.”
Trump repeated that “peace through
strength” remains US policy, adding that Washington would act to protect
its security interests and allies.
Beyond Iran, Trump claimed his administration
ended eight wars in its first ten months, including the conflict in Gaza, where
he said a ceasefire deal secured the return of all hostages, living, and
deceased. He did not address the humanitarian crisis in the Strip or Gazan
casualties, which the Gaza Health Ministry says has risen to at least 72,073
Palestinians killed.
On Venezuela, Trump described the January
operation in Caracas that captured Nicolas Maduro as a major security
achievement that led to a change of leadership and the release of hundreds of
“political prisoners.” As of late February, the rights group Foro Penal said
459 political prisoners have been freed since January 8, with over 600 still
detained.
US oil production rose by more than 600,000
barrels a day following a “new partnership” with Venezuela, Trump said, adding
that the US received over 80 million barrels of Venezuelan oil. US Energy
Secretary Chris Wright has reported more than $1 billion in facilitated sales,
but the Venezuelan government says it has received only $300 million.
Framing the year as a turning point, Trump
declared the country has entered a “golden age,” stronger
economically and militarily than ever before, as it prepares to mark 250 years
of independence in 2026.