Trump Backs Some Iranian Missiles at G7 as US-Iran Deal Omits Drone Curbs
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 18
Trump Backs Some Iranian Missiles at G7 as US-Iran Deal Omits Drone Curbs
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 18
Summary
Gulf Arab officials were left frustrated after this week’s preliminary US-Iran deal omitted limits on Iran’s missiles and drones, weapons that previously struck airports, energy sites, hotels and military bases across the region.
Trump deepened that concern on Wednesday by saying at the G7 summit in France that Iran should be allowed to have some ballistic missiles because neighboring states have them too.
Those remarks clashed with Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s earlier war-time pledge to eliminate Iran’s short-range ballistic missile threat and deny Tehran the ability to use missiles and drones against neighbors and US bases.
Analysts said Gulf states had low expectations for the talks but still saw the omission as a setback, underscoring how regional security concerns remain unresolved even as Washington and Tehran pursue a deal.