U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday warned in his State of the Union address that he would never allow Iran to obtain a nuclear weapon, assailing the regime as the world’s largest sponsor of terrorism as both countries remain on the precipice of war.

U.S. President Donald J. Trump delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.U.S. President Donald J. Trump delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday.Close

U.S. President Donald J. Trump delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Credit: Kenny Holston/The New York Times/Reuters

U.S. President Donald J. Trump delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday. Credit: Kenny Holston/The New York Times/Reuters

Trump further alleged that Iran has prepared missiles that threaten Europe and U.S. military interests overseas, while working to develop missiles that could reach the United States, during his speech warning about the potential use of U.S. military force against Iran.

“They want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words: we will never have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said during his landmark address, delivered 48 hours before top U.S. and Iranian negotiators are set to meet in last-ditch negotiation efforts in Geneva.

“My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy, but one thing I said: I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror – which they are by far – to have a nuclear weapon.”

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the United States Capitol in Washington on Tuesday.U.S. President Donald Trump delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the United States Capitol in Washington on Tuesday.Close

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the United States Capitol in Washington on Tuesday. Credit: Kenny Holston/The New York Times/Reuters

U.S. President Donald Trump delivers the first State of the Union address of his second term to a joint session of Congress in the House Chamber of the United States Capitol in Washington on Tuesday. Credit: Kenny Holston/The New York Times/Reuters

Trump’s insistence that Iran has refused to vow not to pursue nuclear weapons comes hours after Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi – the top Iranian negotiator – posted on X that Iran would not pursue nuclear weapons.

“As president, I will make peace wherever I can, but I will never hesitate to confront threats to America wherever we must,” Trump said, noting U.S. strikes against Iranian nuclear sites during last year’s war between Israel and Iran.