Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran's supreme leader, issued a first response on Thursday evening to the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, saying that President Trump signed it out of desperation. Separately, Iran's official channel confirmed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei's formal approval of the MOU in a state statement, warning that Iran 'will not surrender to excessive demands.'
On Thursday evening, Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran's Supreme Leader, issued his first public response to the US-Iran memorandum of understanding, claiming that President Trump signed it out of desperation. The statement, reported by i24NEWS-affiliated channels, is the heir apparent's first known comment since the MOU was signed on Wednesday. Separately, the official channel of the Supreme Leader confirmed that Ali Khamenei had formally approved the MOU in a state statement, warning that Iran 'will not surrender to excessive demands.'
The thread on this development has moved quickly. At 19:51 Jerusalem on Thursday, state-aligned channels reported that Mojtaba Khamenei would issue a statement 'within the hour.' That same minute, a full statement was published via analyst Yair Goldblatt, in which Mojtaba Khamenei confirmed his approval of the MOU, noting he held a 'different opinion' in principle but authorized the deal after receiving personal assurances from the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council regarding Iran's rights and the Resistance Front. The statement was conditional on the US not overreaching in future talks. The latest comments, reported after that statement, frame Trump's signing as driven by desperation — a message aimed at domestic audiences signaling continued resistance while the deal takes effect.
The Zioneer has previously reported on the path to this agreement. On June 12 at 01:13 Jerusalem, Trump confirmed that Mojtaba Khamenei had approved an emerging deal, and on June 11 at 21:15 Jerusalem, Axios reported that Iran had told regional states of an 'in-principle' MOU agreement needing Mojtaba Khamenei's approval. The MOU itself was formally signed on Wednesday, as reported at 10:05 Jerusalem on June 11.
What remains open is the precise wording of the Supreme Leader's conditions and the scope of the 'excessive demands' referenced in the state statement. The brevity of the published statements — as is common in such initial brinkmanship signaling — leaves the specific terms of Iran's red lines unspecified in this round of public messaging.
6 developments
- ConfirmedMojtaba Khamenei issues full statement: approved US-Iran MOU, says he gave consent despite different view
- DevelopingMojtaba Khamenei: Trump signed Iran MOU 'out of desperation'
- DevelopingIranian parliamentarian claims Khamenei son called for Security Council vote on US deal — only one opposed
- DevelopingSource: Mojtaba Khamenei to sign Iran deal only if Trump provides security umbrella
Source and signal
- Internal intake