**Iran Fires Back at US Claims on Missile Programme** In a heated exchange, Iran's foreign ministry has accused the United States of spreading "big lies" about its missile programme. This comes after US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran is working on missiles capable of reaching American soil. Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei took to social media platform X to address the allegations, dismissing them as baseless. The statement was made in response to Trump's comments, which were part of a broader attack on Iran's nuclear programme. However, this isn't the first time Iran has faced accusations from the US. In an interview with Al Jazeera, Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi revealed that Iran lacks the capability to target the US directly. Instead, he hinted that the country would retaliate against American bases in the Middle East if Washington launched a strike. The US has long been critical of Iran's nuclear ambitions, with Trump reiterating during his State of the Union speech that Iran will never be allowed to build a nuclear weapon. But Iran insists it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, and has repeatedly denied any sinister intentions. The situation is further complicated by the US claim that Iranian authorities killed 32,000 people during the January protests. However, Iranian officials acknowledge only around 3,000 deaths, attributing the violence to "terrorist acts" fueled by the US and Israel. Human rights groups, on the other hand, estimate that over 7,000 people may have lost their lives. The US and Iran have been engaged in a series of diplomatic talks, with the next round set to take place on Thursday. Washington has demanded that Iran halt uranium enrichment and address its ballistic missile programme, but Iran has refused to budge. The situation remains fraught, with the US deploying a significant naval force to the Middle East in a show of force. As the situation unfolds, one thing is clear: the tensions between the US and Iran are far from easing. With both sides dug in, it remains to be seen whether they can find common ground and reach a deal.