Tehran says no obstacle to US imports if prices are right

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran’s missile program was not included in its memorandum with the United States and would never be open to negotiation.

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad after meeting Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pezeshkian rejected any discussion of Iran’s missile capabilities, saying: “The missile issue is not part of the memorandum we had, and it never will be.”

He defended Iran’s missile program as essential to the country’s defense, saying: “If we did not have our missiles, which are for our defense, Israel and the United States would have razed Iran like Gaza and would not have spared old or young.”

Pezeshkian accused Washington and Israel of hypocrisy on human rights, calling their claims “a big lie,” and added: “We will never, ever negotiate with anyone over our defense capability.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran would not be permitted to impose tolls on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz under any final agreement with Washington, arguing that such a move would violate international law.

Rubio made the remarks after arriving in Abu Dhabi, the first stop on a regional tour aimed at reassuring Persian Gulf allies following last week’s signing of an initial US-Iran agreement.

He is expected to meet Emirati officials before traveling to Kuwait and then Bahrain, where he will attend a Gulf Cooperation Council meeting.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said upon arrival in Abu Dhabi that hostilities in the Middle East cannot end as long as Iranian proxies fire missiles and drones from Iraq and take part in terrorism, citing Hamas and Hezbollah.

"You can't have the end of hostilities and conflicts in the region. As long as Iranian proxies are launching missiles and drones from Iraq and are participating in terrorism like Hamas didn't like Hezbollah did," Rubio told reporters.

"That most certainly will come up in these conversations. And there are items outside the MOU that ultimately certainly going to be covered, but that's one that will have to be covered. It will be discussed."

"I do think it's covered by the MoU. And it is an issue that will be gotten to at the appropriate time in these negotiations," he added.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said in Islamabad that Tehran and Islamabad had entered a new phase of “historic trust,” praising Pakistan’s role in supporting dialogue, easing tensions and strengthening regional stability.

Speaking during a meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pezeshkian said he had held constructive talks with Pakistani officials during his visit to Islamabad.

“We deeply believe that regional peace and stability can only be achieved through honest dialogue and intra-regional cooperation,” he said.

Pezeshkian described Pakistan as “not only a neighbor, but a brother and sincere companion,” saying recent developments had once again shown the strength of mutual trust between the two countries.

He added that relations between Iran and Pakistan were rooted in shared ideals, concerns and destiny, referring to the historic cultural ties between the two countries and the poetry of Allama Iqbal Lahori.

The UN shipping agency said Tuesday it has begun an operation to move hundreds of ships and about 11,000 stranded seafarers out of the Persian Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz after the United States and Iran reached a memorandum of understanding.

The International Maritime Organization said it had obtained safety guarantees and verified conditions for safe navigation. “We have now started contacting the ships to start the evacuation,” an IMO spokesperson said, without giving a timeline.

IMO chief Arsenio Dominguez said the operation would be carried out “in close cooperation with Iran, Oman, all other coastal states in the region, the United States and the maritime industry.”

Oman’s defense ministry said the phased plan was necessary because of the “elevated risk of collision,” adding that the regular Traffic Separation Scheme was “not safe for use at this time.” Floating mines remain a major risk around Hormuz.