U.S. President Donald Trump briefly laid out his case for a possible attack on Iran in his State of the Union speech to Congress on Tuesday, saying he wouldn’t allow the world’s biggest sponsor of terrorism to have a nuclear weapon.
Even while assembling an enormous military force within the Middle East, Trump has done little to clarify to the American public why he is likely to be leading the U.S. into its most aggressive motion against the Islamic Republic since its 1979 revolution.
In his speech, Trump pointed to Tehran’s support for militant groups, its killing of protesters and the country’s missile and nuclear programs as threats to the region and the
United States.
“The (Iranian) regime and its murderous proxies have spread nothing but terrorism and death and hate,” the Republican president said about 90 minutes into his annual address to a joint session of the Senate and House of Representatives.
He accused Iran of restarting its nuclear program, working to construct missiles that “soon” could be able to reaching the USA and of being chargeable for roadside bombings which have killed U.S. service members and civilians.
Iranian state media have claimed that Tehran is developing a missile able to reaching North America.
The run-up to Trump’s address was overshadowed by the buildup of U.S. military forces within the Middle East and preparations for a possible conflict with Iran that would last for weeks if Tehran doesn’t reach a deal to unravel a longstanding dispute over its nuclear program.
Trump has repeatedly expressed frustration with negotiators’ failure to achieve an agreement. “They need to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words, ‘We are going to never have a nuclear weapon,’” Trump said in his speech.
Iran says its nuclear research is for civilian energy production.
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Trump also faulted the federal government in Tehran for the deaths of 1000’s of protesters during recent anti-government demonstrations, although the precise figure he cited – that 32,000 people had been killed – is far higher than most public estimates.
“What’s claimed about Iran’s nuclear program, Iran’s intercontinental ballistic missile, and the number of individuals killed within the January unrest is nothing however the repetition of a series of massive lies,” Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said in a post on X on Wednesday.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio held a briefing on Iran hours before the speech for Congress’ “Gang of Eight” – composed of the leaders of the Senate and House of Representatives and the 2 chambers’ intelligence committees.
“Initially, in the event that they wish to do something in Iran – and who the hell knows what it’s – they need to make it public and discuss it with the general public and never keep it in secret. While you do these military operations in secret, it at all times causes longer wars, tragedy, more expenses and mistake(s),” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer told a press conference shortly before the classified session.
Advisers had urged Trump to deal with the economy, immigration and other domestic policy issues, and he devoted the lion’s share of his nearly two-hour-long speech to such topics.
Trump and his fellow Republicans rose to the highest of U.S. politics with the passionate support of a political base that embraces his “America First” policies and vow to finish an era of “endlessly wars” just like the long conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
But opinion polls show the party will struggle to maintain control of Congress in November’s midterm election. Polls also show Americans wary of foreign conflicts. A Reuters/Ipsos poll from January showed 69 per cent of Americans agreed with an announcement the U.S. should only use its military when facing a direct and imminent threat, while 18 per cent disagreed and the remaining weren’t sure or didn’t answer the query.
Trump ordered strikes on Iran last 12 months, claiming in July that they’d “obliterated” the country’s nuclear facilities. His aides have claimed more recently that Iran could be very near having the power to make nuclear bombs.
Trump addressed the difficulty in Tuesday’s speech, saying, “They (Iran’s leaders) want to start out all all over again, and are, at this moment again pursuing their sinister ambitions.”
Trump said he preferred to make peace, listing a variety of worldwide conflicts he takes credit for ending, or easing.
“As president, I’ll make peace wherever I can, but I won’t ever hesitate to confront threats to America wherever we must,” Trump said.
Trump also defended his controversial immigration tactics and global tariffs during a record-breaking State of the Union address on Tuesday night.
Through the 108-minute speech, the president boasted about his wide-ranging policy changes on deportation, the economy and foreign policy at a critical time for the Republican Party. Polling has shown that issues that needs to be Trump’s strengths — like immigration and jobs — are tanking in popularity amongst independent voters who could play a critical role within the upcoming midterm elections.
Republican members of Congress appeared united through the speech, standing as much as applaud the president and repeatedly chanting “U.S.A” throughout the speech.
Trump’s speech offered few insights into upcoming policy, as an alternative counting on his claims that the economy is improving and costs are dropping, despite what on a regular basis Americans may feel.
Trump’s comments are also unlikely to bring assurance to countries and corporations that were hoping for trade stability after the U.S. Supreme Court last week ruled against Trump’s favourite tariff tool.
– With files from the Canadian Press