Trump: Iran Should Retain Ballistic Missiles for Regional Balance

President Donald Trump has introduced a new framing for the emerging U.S.-Iran diplomatic track, arguing that Tehran should be permitted to maintain a portion of its ballistic missile stockpile. Speaking on Wednesday evening, Trump compared Iran's military requirements to those of Saudi Arabia, questioning the logic of advisors who demand the total elimination of the Iranian missile program.

Regional Parity and Internal Dissent

According to material reviewed by The Zioneer Intelligence Desk, Trump described his advisors who seek a "zero-missile" policy as "not very smart." He noted that when he asked if they intended to allow Saudi Arabia to keep missiles while denying them to Iran, they answered in the affirmative—a position Trump characterized as unworkable. "When others have them, you also need to have them," Trump reportedly said, adding that conventional missiles are not the "real problem" as they do not "destroy the world."

The Syrian Alternative for Lebanon

In a separate but related development, Trump reiterated his support for Syrian leader Abu Mohammad al-Julani as a preferred actor to confront Hezbollah. Trump argued that al-Julani could operate with greater precision than current Israeli military efforts. The President criticized the destruction of infrastructure in Lebanon, stating that al-Julani could "handle" the militia without "knocking down a building every time."

Analysis and Strategic Shift

These statements come as the U.S. and Iran are reportedly nearing a major agreement. By normalizing Iran's possession of conventional ballistic missiles, Trump appears to be distancing himself from the "maximum pressure" era's demands for total disarmament. This shift follows recent claims by the President that Iran's missile stockpile has already been significantly degraded by 78%, though some regional sources dispute the extent of that damage. The suggestion to outsource the fight against Hezbollah to the Syrian leadership remains a point of contention with Israeli security officials, who have previously expressed skepticism regarding such a partnership.