Iran Tells U.S.: Our Missiles Are 'None of Your Business' as Nuclear Talks Loom
Iranian MP Esmaeil Kowsari warns that Iran's missile capabilities and regional influence are non-negotiable as U.S. and Iranian officials prepare for nuclear talks in Muscat.
A senior Iranian lawmaker has drawn sharp red lines around upcoming nuclear negotiations with the United States, declaring that Iran's missile program and regional activities are off-limits as the two sides prepare to meet in Oman this week.
Esmaeil Kowsari, a member of Iran's parliamentary National Security and Foreign Policy Committee and former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander, said Tuesday he is "not optimistic" about the talks scheduled to begin Thursday in Muscat. He framed Iran's participation not as a pursuit of agreement but as a strategic move to "show the world" that Tehran isn't avoiding dialogue.
"Missile capabilities and regional issues are not America's business," Kowsari said. He asserted that the West has "no right to make demands" in these areas, pushing back against reported U.S. intentions to broaden discussions beyond Iran's nuclear program to include ballistic missiles and Tehran's support for regional proxies.
The comments highlight the gulf between Iran's insistence on nuclear-only negotiations and Washington's push for what Secretary of State Marco Rubio has called a "comprehensive deal" addressing Iran's full range of destabilizing activities.
Kowsari reiterated that any agreement must protect Iran's right to enrich uranium domestically—a primary sticking point with the Trump administration, which has previously signaled demands for zero enrichment as a condition for sanctions relief.
Iran successfully lobbied to move the talks from Turkey to Oman, a shift that allows Tehran to maintain a bilateral format and avoid the presence of regional rivals like Saudi Arabia. The choice of Muscat, site of previous nuclear-specific negotiations, signals Iran's determination to prevent what it views as "agenda creep."
As Kowsari spoke in parliament, the IRGC unveiled a new underground missile base, reinforcing Tehran's message that its deterrent capabilities remain non-negotiable regardless of diplomatic outcomes.
Kowsari confirmed that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has appointed a "special team" that sets Iran's nuclear strategy. Iranian negotiators, including Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, must brief this team and the National Security Committee before and after each round of talks, ensuring no concessions beyond the "red lines" established by Khamenei.
The Iranian lawmaker's remarks reflect what analysts describe as a "skeptical engagement" strategy, participating in talks to manage international perceptions while maintaining rigid positions on core issues. With officials in both Tehran and Washington describing the diplomatic process as necessary but unlikely to yield breakthrough results, expectations for the Oman talks remain low.