Trump claims Iran is developing missiles capable of striking the U.S. mainland, Iran's Foreign Ministry refutes

[Global Times Comprehensive Report] On the 25th, the Iranian Foreign Ministry refuted the U.S. claims regarding its missile program, calling them "a colossal lie." According to AFP, U.S. President Trump stated on the 24th that Tehran is developing missiles capable of striking the U.S. mainland.

According to Iran's Mehr News Agency, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Baghaei stated on social media platform X on the 25th that all accusations from the U.S. and Israel regarding Iran's nuclear program, Iran's ballistic missiles, and the casualty figures from the unrest in Iran are merely a series of repeated "colossal lies." Baghaei claimed that professional liars have a special expertise in creating a "false illusion of truth," and no one should be deceived by such lies.

Baghaei also mentioned the saying by Nazi propagandist Goebbels, "A lie told a thousand times becomes the truth," which is now being used by the U.S. and Israel to serve misleading propaganda activities against Iran.

AFP reported that while Baghaei did not specify which U.S. statements he was responding to, just hours earlier, Trump claimed that Iran is seeking to develop missiles that can reach the U.S. mainland. Earlier this month, Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif stated in an interview with Al Jazeera that Iran currently does not have the capability to strike the U.S. mainland, but if the U.S. launches an attack, Iran will target U.S. military bases in the Middle East.

In his State of the Union address on the 24th, Trump also reiterated that the U.S. will never allow Iran to develop nuclear weapons, stating that Iranian leaders "are once again plotting their sinister nuclear ambitions." Iran has repeatedly denied seeking nuclear weapons but insists it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. Trump also stated that Iran wishes to reach an agreement, but the U.S. has not yet heard any related "secret commitments." Reports indicate that the U.S. and Iran are scheduled to hold the third round of talks in Geneva, Switzerland, on the 26th. Zarif expressed that Iran hopes to reach a fair and just agreement as soon as possible regarding the upcoming new round of U.S.-Iran negotiations. He stated that the U.S. and Iran have a "historic opportunity to reach an unprecedented agreement," and that "the agreement is within reach, but the priority must be given to diplomatic avenues." (Ren Yiran)