Iran rejects US allegations over its missile programme and nuclear ambitions, calling them ‘big lies’ as diplomatic talks continue amid heightened tensions.
PARIS: Iran has dismissed US claims about its missile programme as “big lies”. The rejection follows President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address where he accused Tehran of “sinister nuclear ambitions”.
Trump claimed Iran had “already developed missiles that can threaten Europe” and is building others to reach the United States. He also alleged Iranian authorities killed 32,000 people during recent protests.
Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei refuted these claims on social media platform X. “Whatever they’re alleging in regards to Iran’s nuclear programme, Iran’s ballistic missiles, and the number of casualties during January’s unrest, is simply the repetition of ‘big lies’,” he stated.
The two nations are scheduled for a third round of talks in Geneva. This diplomatic effort seeks a solution amid a massive US military deployment around the Gulf.
Hours before Trump’s speech, Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi said a deal to avoid military conflict was “within reach”. Araghchi vowed Iran will “under no circumstances ever develop a nuclear weapon”.
He insisted, however, on Iran’s right to “harness dividends of peaceful nuclear technology”. The West believes Iran seeks an atomic bomb, a claim Tehran consistently denies.
Trump has threatened military strikes if no diplomatic agreement is reached. Tehran has promised a firm response to any attack, warning even a limited strike “would be regarded as an act of aggression”.
Inside Iran, university students have reignited protest slogans against the clerical leadership. Verified videos showed scuffles at a Tehran university and students burning the Islamic republic’s flag.
Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani said students must “understand the red lines”. She stated the flag was one “of these red lines that we must protect and not cross”.
The initial protest wave began in December over economic woes but grew into a major challenge for Iran’s leaders. The unrest prompted a violent crackdown with a significant death toll.
The US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency has recorded more than 7,000 deaths. Iranian officials acknowledge more than 3,000, blaming “terrorist acts” fuelled by the US and Israel.
