Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Wednesday that Tehran’s ballistic missile program is nonnegotiable, warning that Iran without such capabilities would face destruction similar to Gaza, even as U.S.-Iran diplomatic talks continue under Pakistan-mediated efforts aimed at broader regional de-escalation.
“Without missiles, Iran would face the same fate as Gaza. Israel and the United States would destroy Iran without showing mercy to the old or the young,” Pezeshkian said during a visit to Pakistan, according to Agence France-Presse. “We will never negotiate with anyone, under any circumstances, at any time, over our defensive capabilities,” he added.
Pakistan has emerged as a key intermediary in negotiations between Tehran and Washington seeking to stabilize parts of the Middle East following months of conflict. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said in parallel remarks that an initial framework agreed by the United States, Iran and mediators did not address ballistic missiles. “There must be no double standards that allow some countries to have ballistic missiles and deny Iran the same right. You cannot accept this hypocrisy,” Sharif said.
Iran fired hundreds of missiles and thousands of drones at regional targets during the recent war triggered by joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iranian territory, according to officials cited in regional reporting. The country’s missile program, initially developed during its 1980s war with Iraq, has since expanded in both range and accuracy. Israel, located about 1,500 kilometers from Iran, has long viewed the arsenal as an existential threat.
Before the conflict, U.S. officials had sought to include Iran’s missile program and its support for allied militant groups in broader nuclear negotiations. However, U.S. President Donald Trump signaled a softer tone last week, saying during the Group of Seven summit in France that excluding some countries from missile capabilities could be seen as unfair if others possess them.
The diplomatic track has also produced preliminary understandings on broader regional issues. Officials said the United States and Iran agreed in Switzerland on a 60-day roadmap toward a potential permanent agreement, alongside mechanisms aimed at reducing fighting in Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah and establishing communication channels to secure commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
As part of a phased arrangement tied to economic relief, the U.S. Treasury Department announced sanctions waivers through Aug. 21, allowing Iran to resume oil exports and related transactions under specified conditions, according to officials. Observers reported a continued pause in Lebanon hostilities linked to the broader framework, while tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz increased on Monday, with Oman’s foreign minister reaffirming commitments to international law and safe passage during ongoing negotiations.
