Trump claimed Iran is building missiles that could soon hit the US. Sources say that's not backed up by US intelligence. [View all]

Source: CNN Politics

Updated Feb 27, 2026, 4:05 PM ET
PUBLISHED Feb 27, 2026, 2:41 PM ET


When US President Donald Trump addressed the American people on Tuesday night, he claimed that Iran is “working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America.” That assertion is not backed up by US intelligence, sources told CNN.

It was one of several claims about threats from Iran made publicly by the Trump administration as it lays the groundwork for possible military action, even as they continue to say the US president wants to reach a diplomatic solution.

An unclassified assessment from the Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) from 2025 said that Iran could develop a “militarily-viable” intercontinental ballistic missile by 2035 “should Tehran decide to pursue the capability.”

According to two sources, the claim that Iran will soon have a missile capable of hitting the US is not backed up by intelligence — there is no intelligence to suggest that Iran is pursuing an ICBM program to hit the US at this time, the sources said.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2026/02/27/politics/iran-missiles-trump-intelligence-nuclear