Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei stated Thursday evening that President Trump turned to all forms of pressure because he is incapable of securing a signed understanding, according to a statement posted by state-aligned channels. Khamenei added that he held a different view on the understandings, and said President Pezeshkian's honest statement bore responsibility, tying the consequences of the negotiations to the Iranian president.
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei issued a statement Thursday evening that reframes the US-Iran negotiation dynamic, asserting that President Trump's turn to "all types of pressure" stems from his inability to secure a signed agreement, according to a Telegram post from state-aligned channels. Khamenei said he held a different view regarding the understandings — a rare admission of internal divergence — while stating that President Pezeshkian's "honest statement bore responsibility." The phrasing shifts accountability for the outcome of the talks onto the elected president, a break from the Supreme Leader's usual posture as final arbiter.
The remarks come amid a fast-moving diplomatic saga The Zioneer has tracked for days: on June 14, Pezeshkian said the war-or-negotiation decision rests with the Supreme Leader and the Supreme National Security Council, and defended his own negotiations with the US against hardline protests. Trump sent tough messages to Iran on the same day, warning Tehran would bear blame for any escalation that collapses talks. On June 16, Trump said he may read the full text of the Memorandum of Understanding aloud in a press conference.
Khamenei's statement notably presents himself as tougher-than-the-leadership-below-him yet attuned to its concerns — a rhetorical posture designed to manage tensions between hardliners and the pragmatic wing around Pezeshkian. What remains unconfirmed: whether the statement signals a concrete policy shift or is a calibrated rhetorical response to internal and external pressures. The operationally relevant question — whether Khamenei has authorized or blocked a final MOU — is not addressed in these remarks.
- StrongTrump says he was told Mojtaba Khamenei agreed to the Iran deal
- DevelopingIran's Pezeshkian says war-or-negotiation decision rests with supreme leader
- DevelopingIranian President Pezeshkian defends US negotiations amid hardline protests over agreement text
- ConfirmedMojtaba Khamenei issues full statement: approved US-Iran MOU, says he gave consent despite different view
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