Senate Republican on Iran having missiles: ‘They have to be able to defend themselves’

Senate Senate Republican on Iran having missiles: ‘They have to be able to defend themselves’ Comments: by Ashleigh Fields - 06/18/26 10:13 AM ET Comments: Link copied by Ashleigh Fields - 06/18/26 10:13 AM ET Comments: Link copied

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Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) on Wednesday said Iran should be able to “defend themselves,” weighing in on the fallout over text in the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding (MOU) that would allow Tehran to keep its arsenal of ballistic missiles.

“I certainly don’t want them to have long-distance missiles. I don’t want them to have nuclear-armed missiles. I would prefer they didn’t, but I don’t think that’s the key issue here,” Marshall said during an appearance on CNN’s “The Source.”

“I think that they have to be able to defend themselves, and I just kinda come back to the big picture here, which is the Middle East countries like this agreement,” he added.

Pakistan, Qatar and Egypt helped mediate the ceasefire extension agreement between the U.S. and Iran but urged their counterparts to slow the rollout of the text detailing the terms.

However, the MOU was released Wednesday and faced major criticism from Democratic and Republican lawmakers alike for increasing Iran’s sway over the Strait of Hormuz and solidifying their ability to keep their missiles while the country agreed not procure or develop nuclear weapons.

Marshall said without granting Iran permission to maintain its missile reserves, conflict between Washington and Tehran could turn into a “forever war.”

“You’re never going to get them, short of boots on the ground, surrendering everything — an unconditional agreement, if you will,” Marshall told host Kaitlan Collins.

“But again, what I’m getting at here is this agreement has the support of all — most of the countries in the Middle East, and I think that’s going to give it more of a long-lasting relationship, a long-lasting success as well,” he added.

President Trump also discussed Iran keeping its missile arsenal on Wednesday at the Group of Seven summit in France.

“Am I going to let Saudi Arabia have missiles, but they can’t have them? … Doesn’t work that way, you know, it doesn’t work that way, and missiles aren’t the problem,” he said.

“Missiles, they hurt a little location, but they don’t blow up the planet.”

Iran possesses the largest and most diverse missile arsenal in the Middle East, with thousands of ballistic and cruise missiles, some capable of striking as far as Israel and Eastern Europe, according to the Center for Strategic and International Studies.

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