Without missiles, Iran would be 'just like Gaza', says President Pezeshkian

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian asserted that Iran's missile program is crucial for its defense, stating that without these weapons, the country would have suffered attacks similar to those in Gaza. During a visit to Pakistan, a key mediator in Iran-U.S. relations, Pezeshkian declared that Iran would never negotiate its defensive capabilities.

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If the missiles we have for our defence did not exist, Israel and the United States would have ploughed Iran just like Gaza, showing no mercy to either the old or the young.

"If the missiles we have for our defence did not exist, Israel and the United States would have ploughed Iran just like Gaza, showing no mercy to either the old or the young," Pezeshkian said. He added, "We will never negotiate with anyone, under any circumstances, ever, about our defensive capabilities."

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif echoed this sentiment, confirming that a preliminary agreement between the U.S. and Iran made no mention of ballistic missiles. Sharif questioned the fairness of allowing some countries to possess ballistic missiles while prohibiting Iran, stating, "There cannot be double standards... that some countries can have ballistic missiles and Iran shouldn't have. You cannot digest this duplicity."

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We will never negotiate with anyone, under any circumstances, ever, about our defensive capabilities.

Iran's missile program was initially developed during the war with Iraq in the 1980s to counter weak air defenses and has since increased in range and accuracy. Israel views the program as an existential threat. The U.S. had previously sought to include the ballistic missile program and Iran's support for proxies in nuclear negotiations, though recent statements from U.S. President Donald Trump have suggested a softening stance on the issue.

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There cannot be double standards... that some countries can have ballistic missiles and Iran shouldn't have. You cannot digest this duplicity.