Iran: Ayatollah Forced U.S. to Make Deal

Iran’s Supreme Leader has finally spoken out on his views of the agreement between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran that ended the conflict after more than 100 days of fighting.

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said Wednesday he held a “different view” on the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the presidents of Iran and the United States, but granted permission after Iran’s president accepted responsibility for protecting Iranian interests.

In a statement posted in parts to X, Khamenei addressed the “passionate and loyal nation of Iran” and said Iranian officials had worked toward the agreement with “sincere concern and goodwill.”

He also claimed President Donald Trump pushed for the MOU “out of desperation” and used “all kinds of leverage” to bring it about.

Khamenei said that he “held a different view” and added that he approved the move after Iran’s president, as head of the Supreme National Security Council, pledged to safeguard “the rights of the Iranian nation and the Resistance Front.”

Khamenei said the president also explicitly promised that Iran would not submit if the U.S. made “excessive demands.”