The Turkish state news agency Anadolu, citing Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, reports that upcoming talks between the US and Iran are expected to include discussion of Iran's ballistic missile program — not only the nuclear file and frozen assets. If accurate, the claim marks a shift, as Tehran has repeatedly stated its missile program is not negotiable. Meanwhile, Iran's foreign ministry denied US assertions that Tehran agreed to allow IAEA inspectors to return to damaged sites.
The Turkish state-run Anadolu Agency, citing Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, reported Tuesday that upcoming US-Iran talks are expected to address Iran's ballistic missile program alongside the nuclear file and frozen Iranian assets. If accurate, the report would represent a significant departure from Tehran's longstanding position: Iranian officials — most recently Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei just hours earlier — have repeatedly stated that the missile and defense capabilities are not negotiable.
As The Zioneer has reported, the US-Pakistan-Qatar mediation track has produced a series of conflicting signals. On Friday, Iranian state media signaled a high likelihood of a deal; on Saturday, Axios reported that US intelligence intercepted Iranian calls suggesting Tehran will not honor nuclear commitments. A separate Anadolu report — not independently confirmed by US or Israeli officials — also quoted the Pakistani prime minister, who is a key intermediary in the indirect talks.
In a parallel development, Iran's foreign ministry denied US claims that Tehran agreed to allow IAEA inspectors to return to nuclear sites that were allegedly damaged, underscoring the persistent gaps between American and Iranian accounts of the negotiations. The overall picture remains one of sharply diverging public narratives, with the missile program now reportedly on the table despite years of Iran's categorical refusal.
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- DevelopingIran: missile and defense capabilities off the table in any talks, spokesman says
- DevelopingArab source claims Pakistan joined Oman in greenlighting US-Iran talks
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