Pakistan Clarifies Iran Missiles Not Included in US-Iran MoU

 

By Shahzaib Saqib

Pakistan says Iran’s ballistic missiles not mentioned in MoU

Pakistan has clarified that Iran's ballistic missile programme was not included in the recently signed Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Tehran and Washington, despite expectations that missile-related issues could be discussed during follow-up negotiations.

Speaking in Islamabad after meetings with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Pakistani officials indicated that the current MoU focuses primarily on ending hostilities, nuclear-related concerns and broader regional stability efforts. Iranian officials have repeatedly stressed that Tehran's missile programme remains a sovereign defence matter and was not part of the agreement.

However, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told Pakistan's parliament that technical-level discussions over the next 60 days are expected to address several outstanding issues, including Iran's nuclear programme, frozen assets and ballistic missiles as both sides work toward a longer-term settlement.

The apparent discrepancy highlights one of the most sensitive questions surrounding the US-Iran peace process. While Washington has long viewed Iran's missile capabilities as a major security concern, Tehran has consistently refused to negotiate limits on what it describes as a defensive deterrent.

Iranian President Pezeshkian, during his visit to Pakistan, praised Islamabad's role in facilitating dialogue between Tehran and Washington and expressed support for continued diplomatic engagement aimed at reducing regional tensions