PM Shehbaz Sharif has delivered the most direct public statement yet on the boundaries of the Islamabad MOU — and it is aimed squarely at speculation growing in Western and Israeli media. According to Dawn, the Prime Minister declared in delegation-level talks with Iranian President Pezeshkian: “This MOU does not mention ballistic missiles. It was never on the table, it was never on the agenda, and the Iranian side never even wanted to discuss it. This is not an impression, but a fact of the matter.”
And then PM Shehbaz went further — defending Iran’s right to missiles on grounds of international equity. “There cannot be double standards; that some countries can have ballistic missiles and Iran shouldn’t. You cannot digest this kind of duplicity.” These are the words of Pakistan’s Prime Minister at a joint press conference with the Iranian President in Islamabad. They will be heard in Washington, Tel Aviv, and every European capital.
Why the Ballistic Missile Clarification Was Necessary
Speculation had been building — particularly after the Bürgenstock technical talks and US statements about the nuclear programme — that Washington might attempt to include Iran’s ballistic missile capability in the scope of the final deal negotiations. The IAEA nuclear inspection dispute that emerged on June 23 had added fuel to those concerns.
According to Geo TV, PM Shehbaz added that there are “spoilers all over the world” who are trying to sabotage the Islamabad MOU by spreading misinformation about what the deal covers. “They don’t want the Iranian nation to come out of the ashes of war and touch the zenith of glory,” he said — language that places Pakistan firmly in Iran’s corner on the missile question.
According to Pakistan Today, PM Shehbaz was unambiguous: “Iran’s missile programme was not included in the Islamabad MOU.” The full 14-point Islamabad MOU confirms this — there is no reference to missiles anywhere in the document.
Pezeshkian’s Absolute Red Line
Iran’s President did not hedge. According to The Express Tribune, Pezeshkian declared: “I would like to confirm that our missile programme was not included in the MOU and shall not be included in the MOU. If it were not for Iran’s missile capabilities, our country would have been plundered and destroyed by the US regime and the Zionist regime. We shall never compromise on our missile capabilities and this shall never be part of any agreement between Iran and any other party.”
That is one of the most absolute statements a head of state can make in international diplomacy. No ambiguity. No hedging. No diplomatic escape clause. According to Times of Israel’s coverage, Pezeshkian’s position was equally stark in his own words: “Ballistic missiles will never be included in any deal.”
According to Pakistan Observer’s analysis, Pakistan has now publicly backed Iran’s equal rights in the field of missile capability — a position that aligns Islamabad with Tehran’s sovereignty arguments while directly challenging what Iran calls the West’s “double standards” on weapons possession.
The State Visit Honours: 21-Gun Salute, Fighter Jet Escort
The diplomatic messaging was not limited to words. According to The Express Tribune, Pezeshkian received the highest military honours Pakistan extends to distinguished state guests. His aircraft was escorted by Pakistan Air Force fighter jets upon entering Pakistani airspace. A 21-gun salute marked his arrival at Nur Khan Airbase.
Fighter jet escorts and 21-gun salutes are reserved for Pakistan’s closest allies and most important guests. Pakistan’s choice of these honours sent a clear visual signal about the depth of the bilateral relationship — one that no press statement could communicate as powerfully.
President Pezeshkian also met President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr, where Zardari congratulated the Iranian president on the Islamabad MOU and expressed hope for durable peace. Pezeshkian’s response, according to The Express Tribune: “If it was not for the efforts made by your excellency and your team, we would not have been here today.”
What the Missile Statement Means for Pakistan’s Mediating Role
PM Shehbaz’s ballistic missile clarification changes the diplomatic calculus in three specific ways.
First, it publicly establishes Pakistan’s position — removing any ambiguity about where Islamabad stands on missiles being added to the deal. If the US attempts to expand the deal’s scope to include missiles, Pakistan will push back openly.
Second, it strengthens Iran’s trust in Pakistan as an honest broker. Tehran now knows with certainty that its mediator will not quietly support restrictions on Iranian military sovereignty being added to the final deal framework.
Third, it puts Washington on notice. If the US tries to leverage the 60-day window to expand the deal’s scope beyond the original 14 points — specifically to include missiles — Pakistan has publicly stated that this was not the agreement and will not become part of it without Iran’s consent.
For Pakistani citizens, the connection to fuel prices is direct. If missiles are added and Iran walks away from the Bürgenstock 60-day roadmap, the Strait of Hormuz situation deteriorates, oil prices spike, and petrol in Pakistan reverses back above Rs350. The missile issue is not abstract. It is directly connected to the price at the pump.
What Happens Next
President Pezeshkian completed his Islamabad visit and departed for Tehran on Tuesday night, confirmed by Pakistan Observer. Iran’s negotiators — Ghalibaf and Araghchi — simultaneously held high-level talks in Oman on Hormuz management. Technical talks continue in Switzerland. 24PakTimes will report on any new developments from the ongoing Islamabad MOU implementation process.
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