Iran's missile programme not part of agreement with US: President Pezeshkian

According to a video shared by the Iranian state media Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), Pezeshkian made the remarks while speaking at a news conference in Pakistan during his visit to Islamabad.

"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 further defended Iran's missile programme, describing it as a critical element 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 comments came during discussions with Pakistani leadership on bilateral relations and regional developments, following the conclusion of the technical talks in Switzerland as part of the 14-point MoU aimed at ending the hostilities in the region.

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

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

However, the published text does not include any reference to restrictions on Iran's missile programme or wider defence capabilities. The only weapons-related provision explicitly mentioned is Iran's commitment not to "procure or develop nuclear weapons".

While US President Donald Trump had earlier made curbing Iran's missile programme a key justification for military operations, his position has since shifted during diplomatic negotiations. He said at last week's G7 summit in France that "missiles aren't the problem". (ANI)