Iran says missile programme defensive, non-negotiable

Iran insisted connected Monday (December 22, 2025) that its rocket programme was antiaircraft successful quality and designed to dissuade attack, portion adding the beingness of its arsenal was not up for debate.

Israel had presented Iran’s ballistic missiles, on with its atomic programme, arsenic the 2 main threats it sought to neutralise during the 12-day warfare the foes fought successful June.

“Iran’s rocket programme was developed to support Iran’s territory, not for negotiation,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said astatine a play property conference.

“Therefore, Iran’s defence capabilities, designed to deter aggressors from immoderate thought of attacking Iran, are not a substance that could beryllium talked about.”

Iran’s ballistic capabilities enactment Israel wrong striking distance, and aft Israel’s unprecedented attacks that sparked the warfare successful June, Tehran responded with waves of missiles and drones launched astatine Israeli cities.

According to U.S. broadcaster NBC, Israel is increasing progressively acrophobic that Iran is seeking to rebuild and grow its rocket accumulation pursuing the war, and whitethorn question to onslaught it again to curtail those efforts.

During a planned sojourn to the U.S. aboriginal this month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “is expected to contiguous (President Donald) Trump with options for the U.S. to articulation oregon assistance successful immoderate caller subject operations”, NBC reported, citing an unnamed root with nonstop cognition of the plans and erstwhile U.S. officials briefed connected them.

Over the people of the caller war, Israel struck subject sites, atomic facilities and residential areas, sidesplitting much than 1,000 people.

Israel reported much than 50 Iranian rocket strikes wrong its territory that killed 28 people.

The U.S. concisely joined its state successful striking Iran’s atomic facilities earlier declaring a ceasefire.

Iran erstwhile procured overmuch of its weaponry from the United States, but pursuing the interruption successful diplomatic relations aft its 1979 Islamic revolution, it had to make its ain home arms industry.