Without missiles, Iran would be ‘just like Gaza’, says president
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran's ballistic missile program is non-negotiable, arguing it is essential for national defense against potential threats from the US and Israel. He emphasized that without these capabilities, Iran would be vulnerable to the same fate as Gaza.
Why it matters
This stance complicates ongoing diplomatic efforts to manage Middle Eastern tensions and highlights the persistent friction between Iran and Western powers regarding military capabilities.
Share President Masoud Pezeshkian rules out discussions on Iran’s defensive capabilities, saying its ballistic programme is non-negotiable. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian (left) meets Pakistan’s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, a key mediator in US talks. (EPA Images pic) ISLAMABAD : Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday said that, without its missiles, his country would have ended up “just like Gaza”, insisting that its ballistics programme was non-negotiable. “If the missiles we have for our defence did not exist, Israel and the United States would have ploughed Iran just like Gaza, showing no mercy to either the old or the young,” he said during a visit to Pakistan, a key mediator in talks between Tehran and Washington seeking a permanent end to the Middle East war.
The article presents the Iranian perspective while providing necessary context regarding the US and Israeli positions.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in