Iran’s Foreign Ministry on Wednesday dismissed US allegations about its missile programme as “big lies,” following claims by President Donald Trump that Tehran was developing missiles capable of striking the United States.
“Whatever they’re alleging regarding Iran’s nuclear programme, Iran’s ballistic missiles, and the number of casualties during January’s unrest, is simply the repetition of ‘big lies’,” ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on X.
Baqaei did not specify which claims he was addressing, but earlier, Trump had alleged that Iran was seeking missiles that could reach American soil.
In a February interview with Al Jazeera, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that Tehran lacked the capability to target the US directly but would retaliate against American bases in the Middle East if attacked.
During his State of the Union address, Trump reiterated that Iran would never be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon, claiming Tehran was “at this moment again pursuing their sinister nuclear ambitions.”
Iran has consistently denied any intent to develop nuclear weapons but maintains its right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
Trump also alleged that Iranian authorities killed 32,000 people during the wave of protests that began in December and peaked on January 8–9. Iranian officials acknowledge over 3,000 deaths, attributing the violence to “terrorist acts” allegedly fuelled by the US and Israel.
Meanwhile, the US-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has recorded more than 7,000 deaths, noting that the actual toll is likely much higher.
