Pezeshkian says Khamenei backed US MoU amid attacks on Iranian negotiators

What happened

Iran International reports that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian defended the country’s negotiating team on Tuesday, stating that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United States was reached with full coordination and backing of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Pezeshkian addressed criticisms from some ultraconservative groups who have attacked the negotiating team and questioned whether key decisions had the Supreme Leader’s support.

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. Pezeshkian said the MoU was part of the Islamic Republic’s broader policies and had been reviewed and endorsed by national security bodies, including the Supreme National Security Council. The president emphasized that Iran would not compromise its core principles or national rights, and that the negotiations were pursued from a position of dignity and national interest. He also highlighted that much of the government’s recent efforts had focused on managing crises and mitigating foreign pressure to avoid impacting the public.

The attacks on the negotiating team indicate significant divisions within Iran’s conservative camp, with some hardliners accusing the government and negotiators of making concessions to the US. However, other establishment-aligned conservatives, such as the Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom led by Ayatollah Hashem Hosseini Bushehri, have publicly supported the negotiators and acknowledged the difficulties in managing the country’s current challenges.

Known from the source

• Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the United States was reached with full coordination and support of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
• The MoU was said to be aligned with the Islamic Republic’s broader policies and backed by the Supreme National Security Council.
• Ultraconservative factions in Iran have attacked the negotiating team and questioned the Supreme Leader’s backing.
• The Society of Seminary Teachers of Qom expressed support for the negotiating team, acknowledging the difficulty of running the country under current conditions.
• Iran’s government has spent significant capacity over the past two years managing crises and mitigating effects of foreign pressure.

What remains unclear

Members of the Society of Seminary Teachers reportedly expressed concerns about alleged violations of the MoU and the need for clearer public communication about the negotiations. This suggests ongoing debate in the clerical and political establishment over both the content and handling of Iran-US diplomatic engagement under difficult security and political conditions.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Confirm Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s explicit backing of the MoU beyond Pezeshkian’s statement. Verify endorsement of the MoU text by expert and security bodies as claimed by Pezeshkian. Clarify details and extent of ultraconservative attacks and specific allegations about violations.

Evidence note

Outside Brief has kept this brief source-led and attributed. Claims should be read alongside the original source linked below.

Original source: Iran International. Open the source.