Iran's missiles were not in the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the US and "will never be", Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said at a joint news conference with Pakistan's prime minister in Islamabad.
Iran will never negotiate its defence capabilities with any country and believes strongly that regional peace and stability can only be reached through honest discussions and intraregional cooperation, Pezeshkian said on Tuesday.
Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also said there should be no double standards regarding ballistic missiles, saying that Iran had the same right to have them as other countries.
Sharif seconded Pezeshkian that there was no mention of ballistic missiles in the memorandum of understanding agreed between Iran and the United States because the issue was never on the table in those discussions.
"It was never on the table; it was never on the agenda," Sharif said.
Pezeshkian is visiting Pakistan, his first overseas trip since the US and Israel launched a war against Iran on February 28, hitting Iranian cities and triggering retaliation by Tehran before fighting stopped on April 8 when Pakistan secured a ceasefire.
Pezeshkian said Pakistan has played a responsible and visionary role in helping de-escalate regional tensions amid mounting challenges.
Pezeshkian also said Tehran believes lasting peace and stability can only be achieved through honest dialogue and cooperation among regional countries, while expressing appreciation for the solidarity shown by the people of Pakistan.
Sharif, on his part, said that Islamabad will continue to play its mediation role to achieve "everlasting" peace in the region.
"We will carry on this important role until everlasting peace is in place on terms and conditions dictated by dignity and honour," said Sharif after talks, alongside visiting Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Islamabad.
Sharif offered his condolences for the loss of "thousands of precious lives", including the Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in the war and conveyed "complete solidarity" with the Iranian people from Pakistan.
The prime minister also thanked Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Qatari emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Saudi Crown Prince Mohamad bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi for "fully" backing Islamabad's mediatory efforts to end the lingering war.
He also warned against sabotage by those who “are unhappy with this armistice".
Noting that Pakistan and Iran have always stood beside each other in testing times, Sharif said the two would work to bolster ties in trade, economy, investment and other sectors.
Sharif said he will visit Tehran next week and announced that a Pakistani delegation will attend Khamenei's funeral.
