ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – US President Donald Trump on Tuesday said Tehran has developed missiles capable of targeting Europe and US bases overseas, warning they could “soon reach” Washington, as the two sides engage in indirect talks over a nuclear deal.

Iran has “already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas, and they're working to build missiles that will soon reach the United States of America,” Trump said during his State of the Union address. 

His comments come as the next round of US-Iran nuclear talks is set to be held in Geneva on Thursday. 

While Iran remains under heavy international sanctions and pressure over its nuclear program, it has repeatedly said that its ballistic missile program is “not subject to negotiation,” insisting on its right to defend the country, as well as its right to pursue the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Trump added that Washington is negotiating with Tehran because it wants to make a deal, but, “They want to make a deal, but we haven’t heard those secret words: ‘We will never have a nuclear weapon.’”

The comments followed remarks by Iran’s foreign minister on Tuesday, saying Tehran is seeking to reach a nuclear agreement with Washington “in the shortest possible time,” but that progress would depend on addressing “mutual interests.” 

"My preference is to solve this problem through diplomacy. But one thing is certain: I will never allow the world’s number one sponsor of terror to have a nuclear weapon. Can’t let that happen," Trump said. 

The latest round of talks, which resumed in February, comes as Trump has ordered a massive buildup of military forces in the region and repeatedly threatened to intervene in Iran once again.

On Thursday, Trump said a possible nuclear deal with Iran could be decided within the next 10 days, warning that “really bad things” could happen if Tehran fails to reach a meaningful agreement.