
Iran’s Top Adviser: Missile Program is Non-Negotiable
On Wednesday, February 12, Ali Shamkhani—an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader—declared that the country’s missile capabilities are a “red line” that will not be subject to negotiation. His comments, carried during rallies marking the revolution’s anniversary and as U.S.–Iran contacts continue indirectly through regional intermediaries, signaled that Tehran intends to harden its military posture even while talks continue on other files.
Iran’s insistence on retaining and improving ballistic capabilities complicates efforts to lower tensions. Missiles underpin the regime’s strategy for deterring adversaries, arming proxies, and projecting power. By publicly foreclosing discussions on this track, Tehran is challenging diplomats to find off-ramps that do not involve curbing a tool the regime views as essential to its survival.
The pronouncement also carries implications for Israel and Gulf states, which have repeatedly faced missile and drone threats from Iran and allied militias. For Jerusalem, it reaffirms the need for layered defenses and for coordination with partners who share concerns about regional escalation. The messaging aligns with the regime’s broader narrative of resistance and may serve to rally hardline support at home.
(INN/VFI News)
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