President Donald Trump expressed a preference for a diplomatic solution with Iran while firmly declaring that the U.S. will not permit Tehran to obtain a nuclear weapon under any circumstances.
During his 2026 State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, President Trump highlighted ongoing negotiations with Iran regarding its nuclear program.
He stated: “We are in negotiations with them. They want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words: ‘We will never have a nuclear weapon.’
”Trump emphasized his preference for a diplomatic resolution, saying: “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. Can’t let that happen.
”He also asserted that Iran is developing long-range missiles capable of reaching the United States.
“They have already developed missiles capable of threatening Europe and our bases overseas, and they are now building systems that will soon be able to reach the United States,” he added.
Delegations from Iran and the United States are scheduled to hold their third round of indirect nuclear negotiations, mediated by Oman, in Geneva on Thursday.
Earlier Tuesday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio delivered a closed-door briefing to senior U.S. lawmakers on Iran as President Trump weighed possible strikes against the country.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tuesday that Tehran will enter the Geneva talks “with a determination to achieve a fair and equitable deal in the shortest possible time.”
