Tehran, Iran – Supreme Leader of Iran Mojtaba Khamenei expressed misgivings about a temporary peace agreement with the United States but allowed President Masoud Pezeshkian, a relative moderate, to take responsibility for the deal. The move has sparked fierce criticism from hardliners, who fear war with the US could resume soon.
The agreement, signed by Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump via mediation by Pakistan, Qatar, and other countries, has also drawn opposition from across Israel's political spectrum, where many support military action to weaken Iran and its 'axis of resistance' alliance.
Below is an analysis of the internal Iranian debates since the memorandum was signed.
Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly since succeeding his father in March, issued a brief written statement: “In principle, I have a different view.” However, he allowed the agreement after President Pezeshkian, as chairman of the Supreme National Security Council, “explicitly accepted responsibility.” Khamenei also stressed that upcoming direct talks “do not mean accepting the enemy’s position” and set a condition that at least three-quarters of the security council members, including military commanders, must approve the deal.
The Supreme National Security Council issued a statement reassuring Khamenei that it would protect “the interests of the Iranian people and the resistance front,” while proceeding with talks “in full distrust” of the US and preparing retaliatory plans should Washington violate any terms.
President Pezeshkian called the text a “historic document and message from a powerful Iran that peace is achievable under the shadow of mutual respect.” Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who served as lead negotiator, thanked Khamenei for his “wise and insightful message” and described the memorandum as only “the start of a difficult and winding road.” Ghalibaf also positioned himself as “the post-war economic commander” and demanded decision-making authority in the negotiations.
Hardliners, for their part, organized state-backed protests targeting Pezeshkian, Ghalibaf, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, whom they accuse of being inclined to concede to the US. Hardline lawmakers demanded parliament reconvene so they could block any deal harmful to Iran's interests. In the holy city of Mashhad, Ayatollah Ahmad Alamolhoda declared: “Our war is not over” with Washington, emphasizing revenge for fallen leaders.
Iranian newspapers on Saturday devoted their front pages to Khamenei's message and the memorandum. While conservative dailies portrayed the agreement as allowed but conditional, the reformist daily Etemad described the memorandum as a “victory document,” highlighting the deep divisions among factions over the still-unconfirmed details of the deal with the US.
