Mojtaba Khamenei Says He Approved U.S.-Iran Understanding Despite Reservations

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued his first message to the Iranian public since the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the United States. He said that the deal was signed between the presidents of Iran and the U.S., and accused the American president of acting out of weakness and necessity to secure the agreement by using every available means.

Khamenei also said he personally disagreed with the memorandum, but authorized it after receiving a commitment from President Masoud Pezeshkian. According to his statement, Pezeshkian promised to protect the rights of the Iranian people and the “resistance front,” which Khamenei said was the reason he gave his approval.