Iran’s missile capabilities are a “red line” and will not be included in any negotiations, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday, as Tehran and Washington prepare for another round of talks aimed at easing tensions.
The remarks came after US and Iranian officials held indirect discussions in Oman last week, against the backdrop of a heightened American naval presence in the region.
“The Islamic Republic’s missile capabilities are non-negotiable,” Ali Shamkhani said, according to state media, while speaking at a rally marking the 47th anniversary of Iran’s Islamic Revolution.
The United States has long sought to broaden nuclear negotiations to include Iran’s ballistic missile programme. Tehran, however, maintains that while it is open to discussing limits on its nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief, its missile programme is not up for debate.
Iranian officials have consistently rejected linking nuclear talks to other issues, including defence capabilities. On Sunday, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi reiterated that the missile programme has never been part of the negotiation agenda.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is expected to press US President Donald Trump during talks in Washington to ensure that any potential agreement with Iran includes restrictions on Tehran’s missile development.