Trump: “Will never tolerate Iran having nuclear weapons… will resolve the issue through diplomacy”

President Donald Trump said he would never allow Iran to possess nuclear weapons, underscoring approval of a defense budget of more than $1 trillion.

In a State of the Union address on the 24th (local time), Trump said, “If possible, we will pursue peace, but we will not hesitate to confront threats.” He stressed that “for decades, the United States has maintained a policy of never tolerating Iran obtaining nuclear weapons.”

He went on to claim that Iran is attempting to develop missiles capable of reaching the US mainland and to rebuild its nuclear weapons program, saying, “We warned them about this, and they will never be able to have a nuclear weapon.”

Trump also reaffirmed that he would prioritize a diplomatic solution. “Our goal is to resolve this issue through diplomacy. Negotiations are still ongoing,” he said, adding, “We will never tolerate the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism having nuclear weapons.” He added, “That must never happen.”

He also mentioned strengthening military capabilities, saying that he had approved a budget of more than $1 trillion. “We have no choice but to be strong,” he said. “I hope we never have to use this great power, but this is peace through strength, and it will work very effectively.”