Iran says missile programme is non-negotiable during Pakistan visit
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has defended Tehran’s missile programme and said it will not be included in any future agreement with foreign powers.
Speaking alongside Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif during a joint press conference in Islamabad on Tuesday, Pezeshkian argued that Iran’s missile capabilities are essential to the country’s security.
“If it was not for Iran's missile capabilities, our country would have been plundered and destroyed and plowed by the US regime and Israel and the Zionist regime, like what the Israelis did in Gaza,” he said.
Pezeshkian also supported Sharif’s position that the memorandum of understanding (MOU) reached between Tehran and Washington does not include provisions related to Iran’s ballistic missile programme.
“We shall never compromise on our missile programme and capabilities. And this shall never be part of any part of any agreement between Iran and any other parties,” he said.
The comments came after US Vice President JD Vance said President Donald Trump had not demanded that Iran abandon its right to self-defence.
Responding to questions about Washington’s position on Iran’s missile programme, Vance said countries retain the right to defend themselves. However, he added that the United States expects any final agreement to include restrictions preventing Iran from developing missiles capable of threatening large areas beyond its borders.
Pezeshkian’s visit to Pakistan included meetings with Prime Minister Sharif and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
The trip followed high-level talks between the United States and Iran held on June 21, 2026, in Burgenstock, Switzerland, with Pakistan and Qatar serving as mediators. The discussions focused on implementing the memorandum of understanding reached between Washington and Tehran.
Pakistan and Qatar later announced that both sides had agreed to establish a high-level committee and develop a roadmap toward a final agreement within 60 days.
The mediators also said a communication mechanism would be created to reduce the risk of incidents in the Strait of Hormuz and help safeguard commercial shipping through one of the world’s most important energy transit routes.
This story is written and edited by the Global South World team, you can contact us here.
