President Trump used a memorable phrase in his State of the Union Address to summarize his foreign policy philosophy: “I will make peace wherever I can, but I will never hesitate to confront threats to America wherever we must.” On Iran, he made clear that a nuclear weapon represents exactly the kind of threat that falls in the second category.
Trump said Iran is advancing its nuclear and missile programs despite last year’s Operation Midnight Hammer strikes, which he claimed had temporarily destroyed the country’s nuclear capabilities. He said Iran was warned not to rebuild and has ignored that warning, adding urgency to the current diplomatic effort.
He acknowledged that two rounds of US-Iran nuclear talks have taken place this month and that Iran appears motivated to make a deal. But he said the foundational commitment Washington requires — a public Iranian declaration of non-nuclear intent — has not yet been made, and without it, no agreement is possible.
Trump described Iran’s expanding missile capabilities as a direct and growing threat, with weapons already able to target Europe and US installations, and longer-range rockets in development that could reach the American homeland. He said these developments factor directly into US military planning and justify the ongoing buildup in the Gulf.
He closed his Iran remarks with a restatement of his core position: peace is always the preference, but it cannot come at the cost of a nuclear-armed Iran. That line, he said, will not be crossed — not through negotiation, not through inaction, and not through any other mechanism.
‘I Will Make Peace Wherever I Can’ — But Not at the Cost of Iranian Nuclear Weapons
