Trump Says Unfair to Deny Iran Missiles, Praises Pakistan
US President Donald Trump on Wednesday suggested it would be “unfair” to prohibit Iran from possessing ballistic missiles if other regional countries have them. Speaking to reporters in Paris, Trump questioned how Iran could be denied such weapons “if Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and everybody has them.”
Despite the landmark peace memorandum, Trump confirmed that US troops would remain in the Gulf for “some time.” He once again praised Pakistan and Qatar for their mediation efforts, noting Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called the deal “perhaps the greatest event in history.” He also confirmed that a copy of the memorandum of understanding had been sent to Israel.
In a separate message on his Truth Social platform, Trump hailed the agreement, stating the US has become “strong, safe, and respected like never before.” He cited freely moving oil supplies, a commitment to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran, and strong domestic economic indicators as positive outcomes.
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Updated: 5:06 AM PKT — June 19, 2026
In further remarks on the Iran memorandum, US President Donald Trump elaborated on his position regarding Tehran’s ballistic missile capabilities. He argued that if regional countries like Saudi Arabia and Qatar possess such weapons, it would be fair for Iran to have them as well, stating, “in terms of proportion, it is fine.” Trump also expanded on his praise for Pakistan and Qatar’s mediation, noting both countries “worked very hard” and “know Iran well.” He mentioned that while Qatar and Iran had differences, they resolved them, highlighting Qatar’s role as a neighbor.
