President Donald Trump used his record-setting State of the Union address to defend his domestic agenda while issuing sharp warnings about Iran’s military ambitions. He claimed Iran is developing missiles capable of reaching the United States and vowed to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, saying he prefers diplomacy but would not hesitate to use force if necessary.

Trump referenced past military strikes against Iran’s nuclear program and the killing of Iranian commander Qassem Soleimani, arguing those actions weakened Tehran’s capabilities. He accused Iran’s leadership of sponsoring terrorism and violently suppressing domestic protests, and said his administration has warned the regime against rebuilding its weapons programs.

The president also claimed credit for brokering a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, asserting that all hostages, both living and deceased, had been returned. He described cooperation in recovering the bodies of captives and portrayed the ceasefire as part of a broader effort in which he said his administration had ended multiple conflicts.

While much of the speech focused on immigration, taxes and crime, Democrats criticized Trump’s economic and foreign policy record in rebuttals. Public opinion remains divided as midterm elections approach, with ongoing concerns about the economy and the administration’s use of military force abroad.