TEHRAN — Iran said on Thursday it will not discuss the country’s defense capabilities, including its missile program, during future negotiations with the United States, after the two sides signed an interim deal for ending their war.
US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a memorandum of understanding early Thursday, ending a regional war that began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes.
The agreement lays the groundwork for detailed negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program and sanctions relief for Tehran.
“Our missiles do not like at all to be talked about by anyone,” Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said in an interview with Iranian state television.
“Iranian missiles are only for firing, not for negotiations. Iran’s defense capability will not be discussed in any way, in any process or with any party.”
There is no mention in the deal of Iran’s missile program, a longstanding concern for Washington and Israel.
Trump rejected demands by its allies including Israel to strip Iran of all its ballistic missiles, saying Tehran should retain “some” missiles like other countries in the region.
He made the remarks as the US and Iran prepare for a new round of negotiations following the signing of their interim agreement. Trump also warned that if Iran violated the deal, Washington would “go right back to dropping bombs,” while insisting nuclear issues, missiles and proxy groups will all be part of future talks.
During the nearly 40-day war, Iran’s missile infrastructure came under heavy US-Israeli bombardment, but Tehran continued to respond with missile and drone attacks across the region.
Before the war, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had warned that Iran would need to negotiate over its ballistic missile arsenal, which Washington views as a threat to Israel and US military bases in the region.
Iran has repeatedly refused to discuss what it describes as its defensive capabilities.
On Wednesday, Trump appeared to soften his position, saying it would be “unfair” for Iran not to have missiles.
“I’m saying that if other countries have them, it’s a little bit unfair for them not to have some,” Trump said.
“A ballistic missile is not the same thing as what we are talking about when we talk nuclear.”
Source: Saudi Gazette