Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian says Iran will not accept discussions or any limits on its missile and ballistic defence capabilities. He characterizes Iran’s missile programme as strictly defensive and says it is non-negotiable, arguing it is essential for national security. Pezeshkian rejects US calls to restrict or limit Iran’s defence arsenal, stating that such restrictions would leave Iran “just like Gaza,” a comparison used to underscore perceived vulnerability.
The remarks come as talks are discussed around a 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) involving the nuclear file. According to one account, the proposed MoU focuses only on nuclear arms and does not include terms on missile limitations. Pezeshkian also indicates that Iran’s missile programme is not covered by agreements with the United States, framing the issue as outside the scope of any current negotiations. The two reports align on Iran’s stance: Iran denies that missile capabilities fall under binding US-Iran agreement terms and maintains that it will not trade off or constrain its missile programme.
