Vice President JD Vance said Iran has the right to possess ballistic missiles as a matter of national self-defense during a White House briefing on Thursday.
The statement marks a significant shift in U.S. diplomatic rhetoric toward Tehran. By framing ballistic missile possession as an inherent right, the administration is challenging long-standing security concerns held by Israel and other regional allies regarding Iranian military capabilities.
Speaking from Washington, D.C., Vance defended the position of President Donald Trump, who previously noted that if other countries possess such weapons, it is unfair for Iran not to have some [2]. Vance said that countries do not give up the right of self-defense [1].
This defense comes as the U.S. manages a Trump-backed agreement with Iran. Vance said Israel should not criticize the U.S. position or the specific terms of the deal. He said that regardless of whether the country is Israel or Iran, one cannot tell a nation they are not allowed to have any self-defense [3].
The comments coincide with a critical window for regional stability. The 60-day clock for the latest U.S.–Iran cease-fire agreement starts today [4]. The administration is attempting to balance the enforcement of this cease-fire with a policy that acknowledges Iran's desire for strategic deterrents.
Critics have argued that allowing Iran to maintain a ballistic missile program increases the risk of regional escalation. However, Vance said that the right to self-defense is a universal principle that applies to all nations regardless of their geopolitical status.
“Countries don't give up the right of self‑defence.”
This shift in rhetoric signals a departure from previous U.S. policies that sought the total elimination of Iran's ballistic missile program. By equating Iran's security needs with those of Israel, the administration is prioritizing a pragmatic, deal-based approach to prevent immediate conflict over the long-term goal of disarmament. This may strain the U.S.-Israel security relationship as the 60-day cease-fire window begins.
