In his State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump outlined a brief case for a potential strike on Iran, emphasizing that he would not permit the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism to acquire a nuclear weapon.

Axar.az, citing Reuters, reports that Trump highlighted Iran’s backing of militant groups, the violent suppression of protesters, and its missile and nuclear programs as threats both to the region and to the United States.

"The (Iranian) regime and its murderous proxies have spread nothing but terrorism and death and hate."

He accused Tehran of resuming its nuclear activities, developing missiles that could soon reach U.S. soil, and orchestrating roadside bombings that have killed American service members and civilians.

Iranian state media have reported that the country is working on a missile capable of reaching North America.