Iran rejects U.S. claims on missile programme as 'big lies'

Iran’s Foreign Ministry connected Wednesday (February 25, 2026) dismissed U.S. claims astir its rocket programme arsenic “big lies”, aft President Donald Trump said Tehran was processing missiles that tin onslaught the United States.

“Whatever they’re alleging successful regards to Iran’s atomic programme, Iran’s ballistic missiles, and the fig of casualties during January’s unrest, is simply the repetition of ‘big lies’,” Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said connected X.

Mr. Baqaei did not specify precisely which claims helium was responding to, but hours earlier Mr. Trump had said Iran was seeking missiles that could scope American soil.

In an interrogation with Al Jazeera this month, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran lacked the capableness to people the U.S. but would onslaught American bases successful the Middle East if Washington launched a strike.

During his State of the Union speech, Mr. Trump besides reiterated that Iran would ne'er beryllium allowed to physique a atomic weapon, saying Tehran’s leaders were “at this infinitesimal again pursuing their sinister atomic ambitions”.

Iran has repeatedly denied it is seeking a atomic limb but insists it has the close to usage atomic exertion for peaceful purposes.

The U.S. President besides claimed that Iranian authorities killed 32,000 radical during a question of protests that started successful December and peaked connected January 8 and 9.

Iranian officials admit much than 3,000 deaths, but accidental the unit was caused by “terrorist acts” fuelled by the United States and Israel.

The U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) has recorded much than 7,000 deaths, portion informing the afloat toll is apt acold higher.

Mr. Trump’s claims travel aft Washington and Tehran concluded 2 rounds of Oman-mediated talks aimed astatine reaching a woody connected the atomic programme, with the third-round acceptable for Thursday (February 26).

Washington has repeatedly called for zero uranium enrichment by Iran but has besides sought to code its ballistic rocket programme and enactment for militant groups successful the region, demands Iran has rejected.

Mr. Trump, who has ratcheted up unit connected Iran to scope an agreement, has deployed a important naval unit to the Middle East.