Trump Warns Iran Developed Missiles Threatening Europe and US Cities

US President Donald Trump warned during a political rally in Mississippi that Iran has developed missile capabilities capable of striking Europe and potentially threatening American cities. Speaking in Corinth in support of Republican Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith ahead of the upcoming midterm elections, Trump asserted that Tehran initiated the broader conflict, tracing hostilities back to the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the subsequent hostage crisis.

"Now they have a missile that reached practically Europe. They weren't supposed to have it, but we said: 'Where the hell did they get that?' And they would hit our cities. They would hit San Diego, they would hit Los Angeles," Trump told the crowd. The economic fallout and regional tensions surrounding the conflict with Iran remain a central issue for Republicans as they battle to maintain control of Congress.

Strategic Assessments and Technical Realities

According to data from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) updated in June, Iran has not yet tested or deployed a missile capable of reaching the United States mainland, despite ongoing long-range technology development within its space program. Iran's current arsenal primarily consists of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles, including the Shahab-3, Emad, Qadr, and Sejjil systems. Estimates place the range of the Emad at approximately 1,700 kilometers and the Sejjil at roughly 2,000 kilometers, posing a direct threat to the Middle East and parts of Eastern Europe.

In March, reports emerged regarding the launch of two Iranian missiles targeting the joint US-British military facility on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI), the UK acknowledged the reports while Tehran denied them. Aerospace researcher Markus Schiller noted that reducing a warhead's payload weight could theoretically extend the range of missiles such as the Khorramshahr, though significant technical limitations regarding accuracy and reliability remain. Furthermore, a 2025 assessment by the US Defense Intelligence Agency concluded that Iran could potentially develop an intercontinental ballistic missile by 2035 if it chooses to pursue such a program, indicating that current operational threats to US domestic cities remain prospective rather than immediate.