Israel Left Frustrated as Trump Acknowledges Iran's Right to Possess Ballistic Missiles
US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran must be allowed to retain some of its ballistic missiles. This represents a significant blow to Israel, which has long insisted that Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities be dismantled.
Trump made these remarks while defending a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed between his administration and Tehran, just before the agreement is set to take effect. “If other countries have them, it feels unfair if that country does not,” Trump stated in France, during a press conference held on the sidelines of the G7 Summit.
“If Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and all of them, have them, I would say that relatively, I think it is fine for Iran to have ballistic missiles as well,” Trump added.
“Missiles are not the problem… Missiles only damage certain locations, but they do not blow up the planet (as nuclear weapons can),” Trump remarked.
The destruction of Iran’s missile programme was a primary objective for Israel when it launched a conflict against the Islamic Republic alongside the US on 28 February. Meanwhile, the US had remained uncertain regarding its war objectives for several weeks. The US had previously insisted that Iran was attempting to use its missile programme as a shield to prevent other nations from stopping its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
During recent escalations, Iran’s ballistic missiles have proven to be precise when used in retaliation against attacks on Israel and US bases in the region. Iran’s latest missile technology has also demonstrated the ability to penetrate the multi-layered air defence systems of Israel and the US.
Trump’s stance on the Iranian missile issue appears to signal a shift in US policy, although he clarified that the programme would be discussed in follow-up talks agreed upon by both parties over the next 60 days.
Hours after Trump’s press conference, the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that the text of the MOU had been “officially” signed by the presidents of both nations, a fact confirmed by Trump following a dinner with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Palace of Versailles.
A US official clarified to Reuters that Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkan signed the document after the memo had been digitally signed on Sunday by Vice President JD Vance and Iranian chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, in the presence of Trump.
“The text of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding has been finalised with the signatures of the presidents – now it is time to test the implementation of the agreement,” said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, as quoted by the state news agency IRNA.