Trump claims Iranian missiles can reach LA, San Diego

US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran has developed missiles capable of reaching not only Europe but also major American cities, including Los Angeles and San Diego.

Defending US military action against Iran, Trump said Washington had not started the war, arguing that Tehran had initiated hostilities against the United States.

Speaking at an election rally in Mississippi, Trump said Iran’s missile capabilities had advanced to the point where they could reach Europe and potentially pose a threat to major US cities.

He maintained that the United States had no alternative but to launch military action against Iran, adding that the decision should have been made much earlier.

Commenting on the economic consequences of the conflict, Trump said he had expected oil prices to rise significantly more than they had following the military operation.

However, he insisted that military action was necessary to address the threats posed by Iran, even if it put additional pressure on energy prices.

The US president also criticised the ceasefire with Iran, describing it as a waste of time. He said Washington had attempted to take the moral high ground by agreeing to a ceasefire, but acknowledged that he had never been particularly enthusiastic about the arrangement.