Tehran, June 19: Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has said that any future face-to-face negotiations with the United States should not be interpreted as Iran accepting Washington’s position, following the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two countries.
Addressing the nation after the signing of the 14-point framework agreement with the United States, Khamenei claimed that the Trump administration pushed hard to secure the deal, describing Washington as being under pressure to reach an agreement.
According to Khamenei, Iranian officials worked sincerely throughout the negotiations, but he maintained that the initiative for the agreement came from the US side.
The Supreme Leader revealed that he initially had reservations about the MoU. However, he approved the agreement after receiving assurances from President Masoud Pezeshkian and members of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council that Iran’s national interests and the interests of the Resistance Front would remain protected.
Khamenei also stated that Iranian negotiators had assured him they would reject any excessive demands made by the United States during future negotiations.
He stressed that while dialogue between the two countries would continue, it should not be viewed as Iran accepting the American stance or compromising its core principles.
Earlier, Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, described the agreement as a significant opportunity to promote regional and global stability, provided all parties honour their commitments.
The MoU, signed virtually by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, includes the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a roadmap to reduce regional tensions, and a 60-day negotiation process aimed at reaching a comprehensive agreement covering sanctions, security arrangements, and Iran’s nuclear programme.
