President Donald Trump said Iran should be allowed to keep some ballistic missiles as the U.S. prepares a memorandum of understanding with the country [1].
This position marks a significant shift in regional security dynamics, as the possession of ballistic missiles has long been a primary point of contention in international efforts to limit Iran's military capabilities.
Trump said that the ability to maintain a conventional missile program is distinct from the pursuit of nuclear weapons [4]. He said that restricting Iran's missiles entirely would be an imbalance of power given the military capabilities of other nations in the region [4].
"If other countries have them, it’s a little bit unfair for them not to have some," Trump said [4].
The comments come during June 2026, as the U.S. and Iran work toward a formal agreement [1, 2, 3]. The president said that the current focus should remain on nuclear proliferation rather than conventional weaponry [4].
"They have to have some because other people have some," Trump said [1].
Trump said the distinction between the types of weaponry, noting that the strategic threat posed by nuclear arms is fundamentally different from that of ballistic missiles [4].
"Missiles are not the same thing as what we're talking about when we talk nuclear," Trump said [4].
“"If other countries have them, it’s a little bit unfair for them not to have some"”
This shift suggests a pragmatic approach to the upcoming memorandum of understanding, prioritizing the prevention of a nuclear-armed Iran over the total disarmament of its conventional missile arsenal. By framing the issue as one of regional fairness and distinguishing between conventional and nuclear threats, the administration may be seeking a more attainable deal that avoids the diplomatic deadlock of previous negotiations.
