Iran’s supreme leader says approved US deal despite having ‘different’ view

Iran’s supreme leader says he initially disagreed with the recently signed memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington but ultimately approved it after receiving assurances from Iran’s leadership that the country’s interests would be protected. In a written statement carried by Iranian state media on Thursday, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said he had “a different opinion” on the agreement but granted permission after President Masoud Pezeshkian and other officials pledged to safeguard “the rights of the Iranian nation and the resistance front” and accepted responsibility for the deal. Recommended Stories list of 3 items end of list Khamenei warned that Tehran would not accept additional demands from Washington. “If the American side wants to be greedy, they [Iran’s leadership] will not accept it,” he said. But he also endorsed direct negotiations with the US, saying: “It is obvious that the face-to-face negotiations that will be held in the future will not mean accepting the enemy’s opinion.” The remarks came as uncertainty remained over whether Iranian officials would travel to Switzerland on Friday for talks with the United States aimed at implementing the agreement. Iran’s semi-official Tasnim news agency, citing a source familiar with the matter, reported that Tehran had not yet made a final decision on sending a delegation and that consultations were still ongoing. …