Iranian Supreme Leader Claims President Trump Signed MOU Out Of Desperation

This is an attempt for Iran’s Supreme Leader to save face.

Iran’s Supreme Leader who has mostly been silent as officials from the United States and Iran have been having back and forth negotiations has released his first statement on the Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. and Iran.

Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in a post on X wrote, “To the passionate and loyal nation of Iran, As you have been informed, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the presidents of Iran and the United States of America.”

He later added he initially held a different view about the MOU but has ultimately decided to trust the President of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian’s decision to sign the MOU.

Fox News reported Khamenei also claimed President Trump was desperate to make a deal:

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said Wednesday he held a “different view” on the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the presidents of Iran and the United States, but granted permission after Iran’s president accepted responsibility for protecting Iranian interests.

In a statement posted in parts to X, Khamenei addressed the “passionate and loyal nation of Iran” and said Iranian officials had worked toward the agreement with “sincere concern and goodwill.”

He also claimed President Donald Trump pushed for the MOU “out of desperation” and used “all kinds of leverage” to bring it about.

“I, as a matter of principle, held a different view,” Khamenei said, but added that he approved the move after Iran’s president, as head of the Supreme National Security Council, pledged to safeguard “the rights of the Iranian nation and the Resistance Front.”

Khamenei said the president also explicitly promised that Iran would not submit if the U.S. makes “excessive demands.”

“From this moment on,” he said, Iranians will wait to see whether those conditions are met.

In the course of reaching this stage, the officials in charge, out of sincere concern and goodwill, made extensive efforts—and of course, it was the American president who, out of desperation, used all kinds of leverage to bring this about. I, as a matter of principle, held a different view; however, out of the commitment that the esteemed president — as the head of the Supreme National Security Council — gave to me on his own behalf and on behalf of the other members regarding the safeguarding of the rights of the Iranian nation and the Resistance Front, and his explicit acceptance of that responsibility, I granted my permission.

Here’s Khamenei’s full thread post on X:

In the course of reaching this stage, the officials in charge, out of sincere concern and goodwill, made extensive efforts—and of course, it was the American president who, out of desperation, used all kinds of leverage to bring this about.

— Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei (@MKhamenei_ir) June 18, 2026

I, as a matter of principle, held a different view; however, out of the commitment that the esteemed president—as the head of the Supreme National Security Council—gave to me on his own behalf and on behalf of the other members

— Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei (@MKhamenei_ir) June 18, 2026

However, it's self-evident that the in-person negotiations in the future will not mean acceptance of the enemy's position. We hope the blessed prayers of our Master (may God hasten his noble reappearance) will bring all kinds of victories & triumphs to honorable Iranian nation.

— Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei (@MKhamenei_ir) June 18, 2026

The Hill reported the Trump administration has shared that Khamenei was not involved in the negotiations:

The Trump administration has said Khamenei has not been involved in current negotiations and is only issuing written statements after being severely wounded in U.S. strikes.
Khamenei’s proxies will spend the next 60 days negotiating with U.S. leaders on further issues, including restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program.

Under the memorandum of understanding text, Tehran could gain access to up to $300 billion for redevelopment efforts after agreeing to end fighting in Lebanon, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and never seek to procure a nuclear weapon.

The deal has been heavily criticized in Israel and Washington from people who argue the Trump administration got little for its war in terms of meaningful commitments from Iran.