'It Was Never On The Table': Shehbaz Sharif Says US-Iran MoU Does Not Include Ballistic Missiles

Published 23 June 2026 · world

'It Was Never On The Table': Shehbaz Sharif Says US-Iran MoU Does Not Include Ballistic Missiles Curated By, Last Updated: June 23, 2026, 22:43 IST

'It Was Never On The Table': Shehbaz Sharif Says US-Iran MoU Does Not Include Ballistic Missiles Curated By, Last Updated: June 23, 2026, 22:43 IST Shehbaz Sharif says the US-Iran MoU excludes any mention of Iran's ballistic missiles. He cautioned against attempts to misrepresent the agreement. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif (4L), President Asif Ali Zardari (2R), Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar (2L) and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi (3R) walk alongside Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian (4R) and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi (R) upon their arrival at the Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi. (AFP photo) Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday stated that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed by the United States and Iran does not contain any provision related to Iran’s ballistic missile programme. The US and Iran signed the agreement last week to extend their ceasefire and facilitate further negotiations. ‘Ballistic Missiles Were Never On The Agenda’ Addressing delegation-level talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Sharif said, “This MoU does not mention ballistic missiles.

It was never on the table, it was never on the agenda, and the Iranian side never even wanted to discuss it. This is not an impression, but a fact of [the] matter." Follow for live updates The Pakistani leader cautioned against attempts to misrepresent the agreement, saying, “They don’t want the Iranian nation to come out of the ashes of war and touch the zenith of glory," The Dawn reported. “So I want to make it abundantly clear that, of course, there cannot be double standards; that some countries can have ballistic missiles and Iran shouldn’t have [them]. You cannot digest this kind of duplicity," he added, reiterating that the MoU he signed as a mediator “does not mention ballistic missiles at all, so there should be no confusion about it." Pezeshkian Rules Out Missile Talks With US Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Tuesday said Tehran remains open to dialogue and peace despite deep mistrust of the United States, accusing Washington of attacking Iran twice during ongoing negotiations.

Speaking in Islamabad, Pezeshkian asserted that Iran would safeguard its strategic capabilities in future talks, stressing that “no negotiations have taken place regarding ballistic missiles, nor will they." He also thanked the Pakistani PM and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir for their efforts in facilitating talks between Tehran and Washington, saying regional progress depends on peace, security and cooperation. Pezeshkian further appreciated Pakistan’s role in helping secure the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran. Deal Opens 60-Day Negotiation Window The agreement was electronically signed by Washington and Tehran to extend a ceasefire and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, following months of hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran. Fighting between the sides had intensified after US and Israeli strikes on Iran beginning February 28, before a temporary ceasefire halted much of the conflict on April 8. Under the MoU, a 60-day window would be opened for further negotiations between the two sides aimed at ending hostilities in West Asia.