Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, has publicly distanced himself from a recent agreement with the United States. He emphasized that his negotiators faced constraints on offering concessions to what he termed ‘the enemy.’
In his first public remarks about the deal, Mr. Khamenei disclosed in a Thursday statement that while he approved the agreement, he fundamentally opposed its signing. He abstained from providing further details on this decision. The accord promises Iran substantial economic rewards while deferring nuclear program negotiations.
Mr. Khamenei clarified that he sanctioned the deal because President Masoud Pezeshkian assumed responsibility and pledged to uphold the rights of Iranians and maintain the ‘resistance front.’ This term seems to reference Hezbollah, a militant group supported by Iran and engaged in conflict with Israel.
He also noted Mr. Pezeshkian’s explicit assurance to reject any excessive demands from the American side. Mr. Khamenei commended Iran’s diplomatic efforts while critiquing President Trump, suggesting he agreed to the deal out of necessity.
Effectively, Mr. Khamenei shifted the responsibility for the agreement onto Iran’s elected administration. The Iranian government operates a hybrid system, where some elected bodies wield significantly less power compared to theocratic segments, such as the supreme leader, a religious leader.