- Khamenei had said in April he was opposed to talks with the US in principle, but in deference to Pezeshkian had allowed them to go ahead.
- Pezeshkian suggested the memorandum of understanding negotiated with the US in June would serve as a cornerstone for Iranian foreign relations, saying Iran “must strive to compel the enemy to remain committed to what it has signed.”
- The claims were made by Mohammad Bagher Kharazi, linked to the supreme leader’s family, and Khamenei’s office called the resignation threats “fundamentally false and untrue.”
- On Monday, the conservative-dominated Assembly of Experts called hopes for an agreement with the US “futile,” labelled “whispers of capitulation” an “unforgivable betrayal,” and added that trusting this arrogant government was nothing more than a mirage.
- On Sunday, Pezeshkian denied claims that he had repeatedly offered to resign, saying: “If I want to resign, I will officially announce that I have resigned. I will not resign, I will stand.”
- Pezeshkian insisted in the interview that he was in complete harmony with the military and said those that claimed never took up the offer to provide proof.
- The row highlighted deep strategic and tactical differences inside Iran over talks with the US, and senior presidential official Mehdi Tabatabaei called the reports “complete nonsense and lies.”
- The US and Europe hope a deal to reopen the strait of Hormuz is imminent and are pressing Oman to accept a temporary agreement that officials in Muscat fear will leave Iran retaining near permanent dominance of the vital oil shipping channel.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian has faced allegations of threatening to resign during negotiations with the U.S. over the Strait of Hormuz. These claims, made by Mohammad Bagher Kharazi, have been vehemently denied by Pezeshkian, who stated, “If I want to resign, I will officially announce that I have resigned. I will not resign, I will stand.”23467811
The controversy has drawn attention to the internal divisions within Iran regarding diplomatic engagement with the U.S. Khamenei's office labeled Kharazi's claims as “fundamentally false and untrue.” Meanwhile, Pezeshkian's office condemned the allegations as “complete nonsense and lies.”1910
The Assembly of Experts, dominated by conservatives, criticized any hopes for an agreement with the U.S. as “futile” and described the notion of capitulation as an “unforgivable betrayal.” Khamenei had previously expressed his opposition to talks with the U.S. but allowed negotiations to proceed in deference to Pezeshkian.5
Pezeshkian emphasized the importance of a memorandum of understanding negotiated with the U.S. in June, asserting it would be a cornerstone for future Iranian foreign relations, stating, “Iran must strive to compel the enemy to remain committed to what it has signed.”
“Khamenei’s office called the resignation reports “fundamentally false and untrue”; the Assembly of Experts called hopes for a US deal “futile” and “whispers of capitulation” an “unforgivable betrayal.” Pezeshkian cited the June memorandum of understanding with the US, saying Iran “must strive to compel the enemy to remain committed to what it has signed.””
The Guardian
