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World
President Trump stated that the US does not require Iran to completely give up its ballistic missile arsenal amid ongoing negotiations involving the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump indicated that the United States does not consider it necessary to completely disarm Iran's ballistic missile arsenal during the ongoing talks about a potential agreement that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in France, Trump explained that Washington plans to collaborate with its allies to address issues unrelated to Iran's nuclear program, such as conventional missile capabilities. However, he noted that Tehran would retain part of its missile capacity.
Trump stated, "They have to have some, because others have them. They have to have some," as reported by The Hill.
He added, "It doesn't work that way... Missiles are not the problem. Missiles can hit a site, but they do not blow up the planet."
In a related development, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said that Iran's ballistic missile production capabilities have been "virtually neutralized" following US and Israeli strikes that began on February 28, while acknowledging that Tehran still holds stockpiles of these weapons.
Hegseth further explained that Washington directly targeted the industrial infrastructure of Iran's missile program, aiming to prevent its use as a "protective shield" for the nuclear program.
During the ongoing negotiations, Iran maintains that its missile program is a "red line" that is non-negotiable. Meanwhile, US intelligence reports indicate that Tehran continues to possess a significant portion of its pre-war missile stockpile despite strikes targeting launch and production sites.
Trump also stated, "We destroyed about 84–85% of their missiles... The rest are underground, and they can't even easily get them out," adding, "It won't be easy for them to rebuild."
