Iran's Supreme Leader Approves Deal with US Despite Having 'Different Views'
Caolán Magee
Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei approved a memorandum of understanding with the US on June 20 despite earlier reservations, after receiving commitments from President Masoud Pezeshkian and other officials to protect national interests. Tehran has suspended toll collection in the Strait of Hormuz for 60 days.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Grand Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, announced on June 20 that he had approved the memorandum of understanding (MoU) just signed with the United States, despite having had “different views” about the agreement earlier. In a written statement carried by Iran's state media, Khamenei said he agreed after President Masoud Pezeshkian and other officials pledged to protect “the rights of the Iranian nation and the resistance front” and assumed responsibility for the deal.
Khamenei warned that Tehran would accept no further demands from Washington. “If the American side wants to be greedy, they (Iran's leadership) will not accept it,” he said. However, he also endorsed direct talks with the US, arguing that “face-to-face negotiation does not mean accepting the enemy's viewpoint.”
The MoU was signed electronically earlier this week by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, following a ceasefire that ended the conflict sparked by US and Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28. The agreement opens a 60-day negotiation period between Tehran and Washington, focusing on contentious issues including the lifting of sanctions, Iran's nuclear program, as well as the role of Hezbollah and the situation in Lebanon.
US Vice President JD Vance confirmed that the 60-day negotiation period began on June 20 and said restrictions on vessels heading to Iranian ports had been lifted. For his part, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on June 20 ruled out any Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon in the near future. However, on social media, President Trump declared that Washington expects “a full ceasefire on all fronts,” including Lebanon, Hezbollah, and Israel.
Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), welcomed the signing of the memorandum and offered to support both sides with verification measures related to Iran's nuclear activities. “Now the technical work begins,” Grossi said.
Under the deal, Iran has reopened the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most vital shipping lanes, while the US has ended its naval blockade of Iranian ports. Iran's Supreme National Security Council announced that commercial vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz will not be charged fees for the next 60 days. Ships wishing to transit must submit requests to Iran's maritime authority and follow designated routes and schedules for safety reasons.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) confirmed that US forces are no longer stopping vessels bound for or departing from Iranian ports in the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman. The easing of tensions has prompted many countries to adjust their travel advisories. The United Kingdom said it no longer advises citizens to avoid non-essential travel to certain areas of the Gulf, including the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait. Kuwait Petroleum Corporation announced it immediately lifted force majeure notices issued during the conflict, and that oil production would rise to 2 million barrels per day within a week as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz resumed.
