Washington, 26 February 2026 (dpa/MIA) - Iran is seeking to develop intercontinental ballistic missiles that could one day reach the United States, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday, describing Tehran's missile programme as an "unsustainable threat."

Washington had observed Iran extending the range of missiles already in its arsenal, Rubio told reporters in Basseterre, the capital of St Kitts and Nevis. It was clear that Iran is on a path to one day being able to develop weapons that could reach the United States, he said.

Iran already possesses weapons capable of threatening large parts of Europe, Rubio said. The secretary of state also expressed surprise that Tehran continued to invest in longer-range missiles despite sanctions and severe economic difficulties.

"This is an unsustainable threat," Rubio, who also serves as US President Donald Trump's national security adviser, said.

Speaking ahead of another round of talks between the United States and Iran in Geneva, Rubio said diplomacy was never off the table and that Trump preferred diplomatic solutions. He described Thursday's meeting — the third round of negotiations this year — as the "next opportunity to talk."

According to Rubio, the indirect talks, mediated by Oman, will focus primarily on Iran's disputed nuclear programme. The US delegation will be led by special envoy Steve Witkoff.

Rubio said Washington hoped progress could be made, but stressed that Iran's refusal to discuss its ballistic missile programme remained "a big problem."

Photo: EPA