Tehran, Iran – Senior negotiators from Iran and the United States are in Switzerland to push forward a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) intended to end the war launched by Washington and Israel in late February. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi led the Iranian delegation in high-level talks on Sunday, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, with US Vice President JD Vance heading the American side.
In Tehran, however, opponents of the deal continue to debate the cautious stance of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. In a brief statement attributed to him on Thursday, Khamenei said: “In principle, I have a different view.” He noted that he had approved the MoU after President Masoud Pezeshkian took responsibility.
On Sunday, the director general of Iran’s state broadcaster’s IRINN news channel resigned after the channel aired a live interview with Mahmoud Nabavian, a hardline cleric and member of Iran’s negotiating team from a previous round in Pakistan in April. Nabavian read excerpts from correspondence he claimed was between Khamenei and senior officials, alleging the supreme leader opposed the ceasefire beginning April 8 because he wanted to immediately impose a toll system on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz and demand “exclusive management rights” over the strategic waterway.
The 11-minute interview was abruptly ended by the host and is no longer in IRINN’s online archive. Khamenei, who has not appeared publicly since becoming supreme leader in March, is also said to have demanded war reparations, release of frozen assets, and an absolute rejection of concessions on Iran’s nuclear program.
President Pezeshkian called the MoU document a “historic text” reflecting the voice of a nation that does not trade its dignity and independence before any threat or pressure. The Supreme National Security Council issued a statement saying it would protect “the rights of the Iranian nation and the resistance front,” while honoring the memory of leaders killed in the war.
Many political figures, including Tehran Mayor Alireza Zakani and state media, said nearly all members of the Supreme National Security Council, including military commanders, voted in favor of the MoU. Saeed Jalili, the hardline former chief negotiator and unsuccessful presidential candidate, reportedly cast the lone dissenting vote. Lawmaker Amir Hossein Sabeti, close to Jalili, said Pezeshkian, ministers, and Ghalibaf voted yes, while Jalili voted no, arguing that Iran’s “national interest” was not served by the deal.
Sabeti said hawkish politicians are demanding the government explain the MoU because its first clause – emphasizing a cessation of hostilities on all fronts, including Lebanon – is being repeatedly violated by Israel. On Saturday, Iran’s Joint Military Command announced the Strait of Hormuz had been closed again due to continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon, but the US military said the waterway remained open to all shipping.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry stressed on Sunday that the top priority in Switzerland is ensuring enforcement of the agreement, especially in Lebanon, before technical talks can move toward a long-term solution in the coming months. Anti-deal factions continue to use their wide access to state media to oppose any negotiations with the US, with some voices proposing the closure of Mehrabad Airport to prevent Iranian negotiators from departing.
