Victory Claim! Khamenei Says U.S. ‘Couldn’t Keep Up The Fight’ | First Speech After Deal

Jun 19, 2026, 08:52:29 AM | TOI.in

Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei revealed that he authorized the memorandum of understanding signed between the Iranian and U.S. presidents despite personally holding a different view on the agreement. In a message to the Iranian nation, Khamenei said he approved the deal after receiving assurances from President Masoud Pezeshkian and senior officials that Iran’s national rights and the interests of the so-called “Resistance Front” would be protected. Khamenei stated that Pezeshkian, acting as head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, accepted responsibility for safeguarding Iran’s interests and promised not to concede to what Tehran considers excessive U.S. demands. The Supreme Leader also stressed that any future direct negotiations with Washington would not signify acceptance of the United States’ positions, underscoring Iran’s determination to maintain its strategic and ideological stance while pursuing diplomacy.