▲ Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Mojtaba Khamenei has conditionally approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end the war with the United States, stating that he will never accept unreasonable demands from the U.S. in future negotiations.
In a written message to the nation released through state media on the 18th (local time), Khamenei explained his stance on the signing of the MOU, stating, "In principle, I held a different opinion, but I authorized it on the premise of the President's strong will and acceptance of responsibility as the chairman of the Supreme National Security Council."
He emphasized, "I approved it because the President promised to protect the rights of the Iranian people and the resistance front on behalf of himself and the council members, and explicitly accepted responsibility for it."
In particular, Khamenei criticized the U.S. attitude during the agreement process and maintained a cautious stance.
He stated, "Up to this stage, the U.S. President has been driven by desperation and has utilized various levers," adding, "The upcoming face-to-face negotiations between the two countries do not mean that we are accepting the opinions of the enemy (the U.S.)."
Khamenei continued, "The President has also made it clear that if the U.S. side makes unreasonable demands, we will never accept them," adding, "From now on, our people and authorities will closely monitor whether the previously stated conditions of the agreement are properly implemented."
The Supreme Leader's message on this day is interpreted as a move to soothe opposition from hardliners within Iran following the sudden signing of an MOU to end the war between the U.S. and Iran, while simultaneously pressuring the U.S. and securing leverage for the detailed negotiations that will follow.
(Photo: Provided by the Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.