‘Like nuclear, they don’t blow up planet’: Trump’s U-turn on Iran missiles after deal takes effect

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday defended the newly signed memorandum of understanding with Iran, saying it would be ‘a little bit unfair’ for Tehran not to possess ballistic missiles if other countries in the region have them.The remarks came shortly after the agreement was signed on Wednesday between the two sides and ahead of its entry into force, as Trump addressed reporters in Paris on the sidelines of a G7 summit.“I’m saying that ⁠if other countries have ​them, it’s a little bit ​unfair for them not to have some,” Reuters quoted Trump saying.He added that the assessment should be applied in a regional context.“If Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and they all have some, I would say that in relative proportion, I think it’s okay,” he said.Trump also said US forces would maintain a presence in the Gulf for a period following the agreement.Trump sought to distinguish between nuclear weapons and missile systems, arguing that the latter did not carry the same level of global risk.“Missiles aren’t the problem… They hurt a little location, but they don’t blow up the planet (like nuclear weapons do),” he was quoted saying by Times of Israel.He added that missile-related issues would still be part of follow-up negotiations.Trump’s remarks indicate a recalibration in Washington’s stance on Iran’s ballistic missile programme, which Israel has consistently demanded be dismantled as part of any wider settlement.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly argued that Iran’s missile capability forms part of a broader security threat linked to its nuclear programme and regional activities.Trump, however, said the issue would not be treated on the same level as nuclear weapons.“A ballistic missile is not the same thing as what we’re talking about when we talk nuclear,” the US President said.A US official told Reuters that Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the memorandum after it had been digitally signed on Sunday by US Vice President JD Vance and Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, with Trump witnessing the earlier signing process.Separately, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, quoted by state news agency IRNA, said: “The text of the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding was finalized with the signatures of the presidents — now it is time to test the implementation of the agreement.”Despite the confirmation, the United States has not publicly released the full text of the agreement.The interim arrangement is expected to serve as a foundation for further negotiations, with discussions set to continue over the coming weeks as both sides attempt to convert the framework into a more comprehensive settlement.