Washington: Trump’s speech, delivered amid renewed talks in Geneva and coming weeks after the second round of indirect US-Iran negotiations in the Sultanate of Oman on Feb. 6, struck a careful balance between diplomatic outreach and firm pressure.

“Our preferred solution is a negotiated diplomatic agreement,” Trump told lawmakers, “but make no mistake: Iran will not be permitted to possess a nuclear weapon.”

He said US envoys are actively negotiating with Iran in hopes of reaching an agreement that addresses the centuries-old standoff over Tehran’s nuclear program.

The Geneva negotiations follow an earlier round in Muscat, Oman, and reflect both sides’ desire to find common ground after years of impasse. Tehran’s willingness to re-engage diplomatically has offered a tentative opening, though core disputes remain.

Trump’s administration has also warned that diplomatic efforts come alongside robust military preparations in the region, underscoring that “all options remain on the table” should negotiations falter.

On the home front, Trump sharply criticized a Supreme Court ruling that struck down his tariffs, calling the decision “very unfortunate” and defending the hundreds of billions of dollars in trade leverage he said the tariffs generated. Last Saturday, he announced a temporary raise of global tariffs to 15 %, the maximum allowed by law, after a court ruled prior tariff authority unlawful.

In a broad domestic policy push, Trump also pledged to halt rising drug prices, curtail funding for large insurance firms, and redirect healthcare dollars directly to citizens with the aim of lowering costs.

In the energy sector, the president touted a rise in US oil output, more than 600,000 barrels per day, as evidence of America’s strengthening energy independence. He also revealed a new partnership with Venezuela, reporting that the South American nation has supplied the United States with over 80 million barrels of oil.