Masoud Pezeshkian Rules Out Talks Over Iran’s Defense And Deterrence Capabilities In Islamabad

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian ruled out any negotiations over Iran’s defense and deterrence capabilities, saying Tehran would never discuss its defense strength with any party under any circumstances.

Speaking alongside Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during a joint press conference in Islamabad, Pezeshkian argued that Iran’s missile arsenal had prevented it from suffering the same fate as Gaza.

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Pezeshkian said the Islamic Republic of Iran will never, under any conditions, hold talks with any side about its defense and deterrence capabilities, and he framed Iran’s military strength as essential to safeguarding sovereignty against external threats.

In the same Islamabad setting, Pezeshkian also criticized Western countries that portray themselves as defenders of human rights, saying such claims were inconsistent with their actions.

At the joint press conference in Islamabad, Pezeshkian said the issue of missiles was not included in any memorandum of understanding and “will never be raised,” stressing that Iran will not negotiate its defensive capabilities with any party.

WANA News Agency reported Pezeshkian rejected speculation about the content of recent agreements, stating, “The missile issue was not included in the memorandum of understanding, and it will never be,” while he argued Iran’s missile capabilities serve as a deterrent and are essential for national defense.

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For his part, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif told WANA that Iran’s ballistic missile program was never part of discussions between Tehran and Washington and was not included in any recent agreement.

Sharif also said possessing defensive missile capabilities is a natural right for sovereign states, adding that “Many countries around the world possess similar capabilities,” while he announced a formal invitation for Pezeshkian to visit Pakistan and address the Pakistani parliament.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said at a briefing that “Iran's defense capabilities and missile power have never been part of the dialogue, and no discussions will be held with anyone on this issue,” linking the stance to broader positions on dialogue and peace.

“Iran: We will never negotiate on our defensive capabilities Arab World and the World Iran: We will never negotiate on our defensive capabilities The Iranian president Masoud Beshkian pointed out that "Iran's missiles were not listed in the memorandum of understanding signed with the United States, and they will never be”

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In the same broader diplomatic context described by PressTV, Pezeshkian’s remarks came amid lingering tensions between Tehran and Washington despite a recently signed memorandum of understanding aimed at ending a war that erupted following US-Israeli aggression against Iran earlier this year.

PressTV said Pakistan played a key role in facilitating the Iran-US MoU, with Prime Minister Sharif and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir helping mediate negotiations, and it said the agreement paved the way for a ceasefire and outlined future discussions on issues including sanctions relief and regional security.

PressTV also reported that Iranian officials have repeatedly stressed that any future diplomacy must lead to the full implementation of the agreement, including the lifting of sanctions and guarantees against further military action, while Sharif described the end of the war as “a matter of great happiness that this war has come to an end”.