Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has authorized Iranian negotiators to engage in direct talks with the United States, emphasizing that this does not imply acceptance of U.S. views. Khamenei's statement was made in a written message on his Telegram channel and marks his first response to the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the U.S. and Iran. Iranian negotiators were awaiting this public approval before proceeding to Switzerland for initial negotiations scheduled for Friday or Saturday.
In his message, Khamenei expressed opposition to the MOU but authorized it based on recommendations from President Masoud Pezeshkian and the Supreme National Security Council. He noted that Pezeshkian and other officials involved in the negotiations assured him they would not concede to excessive demands from the U.S. Khamenei also characterized President Trump’s signing of the deal as an act of desperation.
Raz Zimmt, director of the Iran Program at the Institute for National Security Studies, interpreted Khamenei's statement as an endorsement of ongoing negotiations with the U.S., while also suggesting that Khamenei is positioning himself to manage potential outcomes of the talks. If the negotiations yield favorable results for Iran, Khamenei could claim credit; if they fail, he could distance himself from the negotiations and place blame on Pezeshkian.