Live Update 
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, June 18, 2026
From the Liveblog of
Thursday, June 18, 2026
Trump doubles down on claim it’s ‘unfair’ if Iran not allowed to keep some ballistic missiles
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleJacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief
Farmers spray water in a burned agricultural field next to Iranian missile shrapnel near the town of Najha, Syria, June 8, 2026. (AP/Ghaith Alsayed)
US President Donald Trump doubles down on his assertion that Iran be allowed to maintain some ballistic missiles.
“If other countries have them, it’s a little bit unfair for them not to have some,” Trump tells reporters in France.
“A ballistic missile is not the same thing as what we’re talking about when we talk nuclear,” he continues.
“But if Saudi Arabia and Qatar, and they all have some, I would say that in relative proportion, I think it’s okay” for Iran to have ballistic missiles, Trump adds.
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