Mojtaba
Susan Abayomi
Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said on Thursday, June 18, 2026, that he had authorized a memorandum of understanding signed by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump, even though he personally held “a different view” about the deal. He made the statement in a written message to the Iranian nation that was read on state television.
Khamenei explained that his approval came after receiving assurances from Pezeshkian, who is also head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, and other senior officials. They pledged to safeguard Iran’s rights and the interests of the “Resistance Front” and accepted responsibility for ensuring Washington doesn’t impose “excessive demands”. He stressed that from now on, Iran and its people will “wait for the fulfillment of those conditions.
The MoU was signed by Pezeshkian and Trump at the Palace of Versailles on Wednesday. It’s described as a 14-point accord aimed at ending hostilities that erupted after US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February. Trump called it a “major win” and said it prevented a “worldwide depression”. US Vice President JD Vance said it’s a “very general document” with details to be released over the next two days, including “very significant sanctions relief” for Iran.
Despite signing off, Khamenei was clear about his reservations. He said “fundamentally, I had a different view” and accused Trump of using “all kinds of levers” and “all available means out of desperation” to secure the deal. He also drew a red line for future talks: “It is obvious that the face-to-face negotiations that will be held in the future will not mean accepting the enemy’s point of view.
The deal comes with immediate practical moves. US Central Command announced it has formally lifted the naval blockade of Iranian shipping ports, though US Navy ships will “remain in the general area” to monitor compliance. The agreement is expected to eventually unfreeze foreign assets and set up a $300bn reconstruction fund paid by Gulf states, but Iran would have to meet US demands including never building a nuclear weapon and cutting support for militias like Hezbollah.
Khamenei hasn’t been seen in public since taking office in March after his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the February strikes. His statement is his first reaction to the Trump-Pezeshkian deal.
So basically: Khamenei gave permission, but he’s signaling caution. He’s backing Pezeshkian’s commitment to protect Iran’s interests while keeping ideological distance from the US position. The next test will be whether Washington’s “excessive demands” line holds and if sanctions relief actually materializes.
