Mojtaba Khamenei says he initially opposed the US-Iran deal

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, issued his first written response on Thursday night after the signing of the memorandum of understanding between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran. He did not appear in person, and instead delivered his remarks in writing. He said, “As you know, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the presidents of Iran and the United States.” He added, “President Trump, out of weakness and need, used every available means to achieve this goal.”

Khamenei acknowledged that he had originally opposed the agreement, saying, “In principle I had a different opinion, but I gave my approval after the commitment given to me by the president, in his role as chairman of the Supreme National Security Council, in his name and in the name of the council members, to preserve the rights of the Iranian people and the resistance front.”

His statement came hours after the White House formally confirmed that Trump signed the memorandum during his stay in Paris. The signing was done digitally overnight, and the document took effect immediately. According to previous reporting cited in the article, the understanding contains 14 clauses, including a US commitment to lift economic sanctions, release frozen Iranian assets, and support future reconstruction of Iran’s economy.

In exchange, Iran agreed not to seek nuclear weapons in the future, though the text reportedly does not clearly address the current status of its nuclear program. The article says Khamenei avoided discussing specific terms or mentioning the major American concessions, including sanctions relief and the release of assets worth hundreds of billions of dollars. The deal is drawing sharp criticism in the Arab world, and in Israel tensions are rising, with US Vice President JD Vance declaring the start of a 60-day ceasefire with Iran and warning Israel not to “run wild in Lebanon.” Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir also ordered the IDF to prepare for all scenarios, including an attack on Iran and renewed fighting in Lebanon.