Ahead of next round of talks, Iran insists missile program is off limits

“Our missiles are not subject to negotiations and will not be,” Araghchi said.

By World Israel News Staff

Iranian officials on Wednesday reiterated that the country’s ballistic missile program is “not subject to negotiation,” issuing defiant warnings as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu holds meetings in Washington ahead of a second round of U.S.–Iran talks.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said bluntly, “No one can cause even the slightest damage to our missiles. Our missiles are not subject to negotiations and will not be.”

Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Defense Council, went further, accusing Western powers of acting in bad faith.

“The enemies are following the negotiation track dishonestly and with malicious intent. Once again they are raising the issue of missiles. This is not within the authority of the negotiations,” he said.

Shamkhani warned that any military strike against Iran, “even limited,” would be considered the start of a war. Such a conflict, he said, would not remain confined to a small geographic area or to two adversaries, and “could affect many actors and impact the lives of all humanity.”

The remarks come as Netanyahu is in Washington, where he is expected to present President Donald Trump with updated intelligence assessments warning that Iran is rapidly rebuilding its ballistic missile arsenal.

According to an Israeli source cited by CNN, estimates suggest Tehran could restore its stockpiles to between 1,800 and 2,000 ballistic missiles within weeks or months if no action is taken.

On Tuesday night, speaking to Fox News, President Donald Trump said he would prefer to reach a deal with Iran but stressed that any agreement must fully dismantle its nuclear and missile programs. “I’d rather make a deal, but it’s got to be a good deal — no nuclear weapons, no missiles,” he said.