Iran’s supreme leader approves peace MoU despite holding ‘different view’
Why this matters: local context for readers following news across Pakistan and the region.
TEHRAN – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said he had approved a memorandum of understanding was signed between the presidents of Iran and the United States of America to end the conflict despite holding a different view. In a message on social media platform X, he wrote: “In the course of reaching this stage, the officials in charge, out of sincere concern and goodwill, made extensive efforts—and of course, it was the American president who, out of desperation, used all kinds of leverage to bring this about”. “I, as a matter of principle, held a different view; however, out of the commitment that the esteemed president—as the head of the Supreme National Security Council—gave to me on his own behalf and on behalf of the other members regarding the safeguarding of the rights of the Iranian nation and the Resistance Front, and his explicit acceptance of that responsibility, I granted my permission,” read the message. The full text of the message of Imam Sayyid Mojtaba Khamenei, the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, addressing the Iranian nation regarding the Memorandum of Understanding between the presidents of Iran and America, June 18, 2026 pic.twitter.com/9nSD2NfkVe — Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei (@MKhamenei_ir) June 18, 2026 He also explicitly stated that if the American side seeks to make excessive demands, they will not submit to them. From this moment on, we—that is, you, the proud nation, and this humble servant—will await the realization of the aforementioned conditions. However, it’s self-evident that the in-person negotiations in the future will not mean acceptance of the enemy’s position. We hope the blessed prayers of our Master (may God hasten his noble reappearance) will bring all kinds of victories & triumphs to honorable Iranian nation.