Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has revealed that he was not fully convinced about moving forward with the recently agreed framework between Tehran and Washington. However, he said he eventually authorised the arrangement after senior government and security officials assured him that Iran’s national interests would remain safeguarded throughout the process.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the draft understanding with the United States was finalised through virtual discussions, Khamenei explained that his approval came only after receiving commitments from President Masoud Pezeshkian and members of Iran’s top security body. According to him, officials pledged that the agreement would protect the rights of the Iranian people and preserve the country’s strategic priorities.

The Supreme Leader also sought to address concerns among critics who fear that engagement with Washington could lead to concessions from Tehran. He emphasised that any future face-to-face discussions should not be interpreted as acceptance of American demands or viewpoints.

Khamenei further cautioned that Iran would resist excessive pressure during upcoming negotiations. He indicated that Tehran would not agree to terms it considers unreasonable and would continue to defend its national interests during the diplomatic process.

His remarks provide a rare insight into internal deliberations within Iran’s leadership as the country enters a two-month negotiation phase with the United States aimed at resolving key outstanding issues.

The comments come at a crucial moment, with both sides preparing for further talks while closely monitoring developments surrounding the evolving agreement.