Iran has ruled out any possibility of including its missile programme in future negotiations with the United States, following a recently agreed framework aimed at ending hostilities between both countries.
The announcement comes after US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed a Memorandum of Understanding that lays the foundation for broader talks on Iran’s nuclear activities and potential sanctions relief.
According to Iranian officials, the agreement does not cover Iran’s ballistic missile programme, which remains a major point of disagreement between Tehran and Washington.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei stated that the country’s missile capability is strictly a defensive matter and not open for negotiation under any circumstances.
He stressed that Iran’s missile systems are not subject to discussion with any external party, insisting they are solely for defence purposes.
The exclusion of the missile programme from talks is likely to maintain tensions with the United States and Israel, both of which have long expressed concerns over Iran’s missile capabilities.
Washington has previously argued that Iran’s missile development poses a threat to regional security, particularly to US forces and Israeli territory in the Middle East.
However, Iranian authorities have consistently maintained that their defence programme is non-negotiable and essential for national security.
During recent conflict escalation, Iran’s missile infrastructure reportedly faced heavy strikes, while Tehran responded with its own missile and drone attacks across the region.
While earlier US positions suggested that missile capabilities could be part of broader negotiations, recent comments from President Trump indicated a slightly softer stance, distinguishing missile development from nuclear discussions.
The latest position from Tehran underscores continuing differences between both sides despite efforts to establish a framework for diplomatic engagement.
