Without missiles, Iran would be 'like Gaza,' says president

Iranian President Masud Pezeshkian asserted that Iran's ballistic missile program is a non-negotiable aspect of its national defense, warning that the country would be as vulnerable as Gaza without these capabilities. During a visit to Pakistan, a key mediator in U.S.-Iran talks, Pezeshkian stated that Israel and the United States would have "razed Iran" without its missiles.

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If we don't have the missiles we have for our defense, Israel and the United States would have razed Iran just like Gaza, without showing mercy to the elderly or the young.

"We will never negotiate with anyone, under any circumstances, ever, about our defensive capabilities," Pezeshkian declared, underscoring the strategic importance Iran places on its missile program. He drew a stark parallel between Iran's potential fate and that of Gaza, implying that a lack of defensive missile power leaves a nation susceptible to overwhelming force.

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

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif corroborated that preliminary agreements between the U.S. and Iran, facilitated by mediators, do not include provisions regarding ballistic missiles. Sharif voiced support for Iran's position, stating, "There cannot be double standards (...) That some countries can have ballistic missiles and Iran should not have them." This sentiment reflects a broader concern about equitable international regulations regarding missile technology.

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There cannot be double standards (...) That some countries can have ballistic missiles and Iran should not have them.

Iran's development of ballistic missiles began during the Iran-Iraq War to compensate for weaknesses in its air defense systems. Over time, these missiles have increased in range and precision. While Iran views them as a defensive necessity, countries like Israel perceive the program as an existential threat. Earlier discussions had seen the U.S. attempt to link Iran's missile program and its support for regional allied groups to negotiations over Iran's nuclear program. Notably, U.S. President Donald Trump has recently expressed a more nuanced view, suggesting it is unfair for other countries to possess such weapons while Iran is restricted.

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What I say is that if other countries have them, it's a bit unfair that they don't have some.