Iran’s Missile Programme Not Part of Deal with US: President Pezeshkian

0
2

Islamabad: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday said that Iran’s missile programme is not included in the 14-point memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United States and will not be part of any such arrangement in the future.

According to a video shared by the state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Pezeshkian made the remarks during a news conference in Islamabad while on an official visit to Pakistan.

“The discussion over our missiles does not exist in the MoU, and it never will,” Pezeshkian said, firmly rejecting any linkage between Iran’s missile capabilities and the agreement with the United States.

He also defended Iran’s missile programme, describing it as a crucial component of the country’s defence strategy.

“If we did not have the missiles we use for our defence, Israel and the United States would have devastated Iran,” he said.

Pezeshkian’s remarks came during discussions with Pakistani leaders on bilateral relations and regional developments, following the conclusion of technical talks in Switzerland under the 14-point MoU aimed at ending regional hostilities.

Last week, the United States released the official text of the agreement reached with Iran.

According to CNN, a senior US administration official outlined the 14-point document, which reportedly includes provisions on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, easing certain financial restrictions on Iran, and setting expectations for future technical talks on Iran’s nuclear programme.

However, the published text does not mention any restrictions on Iran’s missile programme or broader defence capabilities. The only weapons-related provision explicitly included is Iran’s commitment not to procure or develop nuclear weapons.

While US President Donald Trump had earlier cited curbing Iran’s missile programme as a key justification for military operations, his stance appeared to shift during diplomatic negotiations. Speaking at last week’s G7 Summit in France, Trump said that “missiles aren’t the problem.”

Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: deccanchronicle.com