In his first statement after the memorandum of understanding with the United States was signed, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said he had initially held a different view, but approved the deal after a commitment from President Masoud Pezeshkian to protect Iranian rights and the “resistance front.” He also warned that Tehran “will not yield to American dictates,” and mocked Donald Trump, saying the U.S. president used “all available means” out of weakness and need to secure the agreement.
According to the statement, Pezeshkian said Iran would not surrender if Washington tried to impose expansionist demands or add new conditions. It added that any future direct talks would not mean capitulation. The comments come amid reports that Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly since taking over after the killing of his father, Ali Khamenei, was seriously wounded in the opening strike of Operation “Roar of the Lion,” fueling speculation about how power is now exercised in Tehran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the formal implementation of the ceasefire, under the U.S.-Iran memorandum, will begin on Friday. He said the follow-up talks will proceed in two stages, first on ending the war, the Strait of Hormuz, the release of frozen Iranian funds and reconstruction, then a 60-day round on the nuclear issue and sanctions relief. He said the deal calls for an immediate and final end to fighting on all fronts, including Lebanon.
The New York Times reported that before the signing, Khamenei instructed parliament speaker Mohammad Qalibaf to bring the final text to the 13-member Supreme National Security Council, which approved it in a secret meeting, though at least two hardliners voted against. During the process, Iran prepared missiles for a retaliatory strike, while Qatar shuttled messages between Iranian officials and U.S. intermediaries Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner and Vice President JD Vance to prevent collapse of the talks.
Despite the agreement still lacking a final signature, Iranian officials are already describing it as a victory. They point to gains including control over the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of Lebanon fighting, the release of frozen funds and the fact that Iran has not agreed to hand over enriched uranium or end enrichment. Military and political figures, along with Iranian media, have hailed the deal as a strategic triumph and said the next challenge is preventing the talks from drifting away from Iran’s core demands.
