WASHINGTON -- US President Donald Trump used the longest State of the Union address in US history to repeat the threat of military action againstIranif diplomacy fails -- and pledged to keep negotiating to end the war in Ukraine.
Speaking for nearly one hour and 50 minutes, Trump used the joint session of Congress to frame his administrations achievements as the dawn of a "golden age."
The speech was an opportunity to focus on domestic policy ahead of Novembers midterm elections, but Trump also restated key priorities on foreign affairs and global security.
Iran
Trump spent several minutes discussing Iran, which he presented as a direct and ongoing threat while also recalling US military strikes on the country in June last year.
After [operation] Midnight Hammer, they were warned to make no future attempts to rebuild their weapons program, in particular nuclear weapons. Yet they continue starting it all over again, he said.
My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy, Trump said. But one thing is certain: I will never allow the worlds number one sponsor of terror, which they are by far, to have a nuclear weapon. Cant let that happen.
