Khamenei: Trump Sought Deal Out of Desperation, Initially Opposed It

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei revealed he initially opposed signing a memorandum of understanding with then-U.S. President Donald Trump, characterizing the American leader's actions as desperate. Khamenei stated that Trump "used all possible means out of desperation" to achieve the agreement.

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In principle, I held a different opinion. However, the respected president, as the chairman of the Supreme National Security Council, pledged on behalf of himself and other council members to defend the rights of the Iranian nation and the resistance front and stated that he would take responsibility. Therefore, I gave permission.

However, Khamenei explained that he ultimately granted permission after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, in his capacity as chairman of the Supreme National Security Council, pledged to take responsibility for the decision. Rouhani assured that Iran's rights and those of the "resistance front" would be defended, and that Iran would not tolerate the U.S. overstepping boundaries.

Khamenei's remarks, conveyed in a statement to the Iranian people, acknowledged the efforts made by Iranian authorities to secure the deal. He noted that direct negotiations did not signify an acceptance of the enemy's position. The Supreme Leader expressed hope for the fulfillment of the agreed-upon conditions and invoked divine blessings for the Iranian nation.

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From this moment on, we – that is, you, the great nation, and this insignificant servant of yours – will wait to see how the aforementioned conditions are fulfilled.

Despite the internal approval, the agreement reportedly faced criticism in U.S. media. Reports suggested that the deal involved concessions on pre-war objectives, potentially strengthened Iran's position, and involved the squandering of tens of billions of dollars. The agreement also stipulated conditions for the creation of a $300 billion reconstruction fund, supported by regional countries, to be facilitated by the United States.

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However, it is obvious that direct negotiations that will take place in the future do not mean accepting the enemy's position.