Tehran: A day after the United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at ending months of conflict, Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba
Khamenei said he approved the agreement despite initial reservations, while claiming that US President Donald Trump was “desperate” to secure a deal.
The remarks came in a written message to the Iranian people on Thursday, offering insight into Tehran’s internal discussions before the agreement was finalised.
Mojtaba Khamenei
Khamenei said he had opposed the agreement “as a matter of principle” but ultimately authorised it after receiving assurances from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and members of the Supreme National Security Council.
According to Khamenei, officials assured him that Iran’s national interests and those of the “Resistance Front” would be protected under the framework.
Desperate Trump used all kinds of leverage for Iran deal: Mojtaba Khamenei
In his message, Khamenei claimed the United States had pushed aggressively for the agreement.
“Officials in charge, out of sincere concern and goodwill, made extensive efforts — and of course, it was the American President who, out of desperation, used all kinds of leverage to bring this about,” he said.
The US-Iran memorandum was formally signed on June 18 by President Donald Trump and President Masoud Pezeshkian after being initially signed by US Vice President JD Vance and Iran’s chief negotiator Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf.
Khamenei said Pezeshkian had assured him that Tehran would resist any demands it considered unreasonable during future talks with Washington.
“He explicitly stated that if the American side seeks to make excessive demands, they will not submit to them,” Khamenei said.
He also stressed that future direct negotiations should not be interpreted as a shift in Iran’s position.
“It’s self-evident that the in-person negotiations in the future will not mean acceptance of the enemy’s position.”
US lifts blockade, Iran allows Hormuz passage
The Supreme Leader’s remarks came as both countries began implementing parts of the agreement.
US Central Command announced it had halted enforcement operations related to the maritime blockade around the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian authorities, meanwhile, said commercial vessels would receive expedited transit approvals and that passage fees through the strategic waterway would be waived for 60 days.
US-Iran peace deal
The memorandum serves as an interim framework rather than a final settlement. It commits both sides to ending military operations and establishes a 60-day period for negotiations on broader issues, including sanctions relief, economic cooperation and Iran’s nuclear programme.
