Communication with Supreme Leader Mojtaba 'very difficult at moment': Iranian President
Tehran, Aug 6
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has said communication with Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is very "difficult at the moment," but his presence is a "great strength" for the country to continue its path.
The United States and Israel killed Iran's former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei on Feb. 28 out of "desperation," expecting Iran to collapse after the "brutal" action, Pezeshkian said in an interview published on the website of his office on Wednesday (local time).
"However, the country continued, and our (new) beloved leader was selected," he said. "Our new dear leader's presence is a very great strength for us to be able to continue this path, although communication with him is very difficult at the moment."
He said Iran is facing its "most difficult" circumstances, citing intensified banking sanctions, curbs on foreign transactions, a naval blockade, and an ongoing war, reports Xinhua news agency.
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Ali Khamenei, was selected as Iran's new supreme leader by the country's Assembly of Experts in early March.
This comes against the backdrop of Iran and Oman almost finalising an agreement on new arrangements for commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, under which the temporary northern and southern routes will be replaced by a new single route passing through Iran's territorial waters for two to four months.
Meanwhile, an informed source close to the Iranian negotiating team told semi-official Fars news agency that the reopening of the strait hinges on tangible US implementation of its commitments, adding that the US Treasury Department's removal of sanctions on an Iraqi airline on Wednesday was unrelated to the Iran-US MoU.
Iran tightened its control over the Strait of Hormuz on February 28, barring safe passage of vessels belonging to or affiliated with Israel and the United States, following their joint strikes on Iranian territory.
The US military launched multiple waves of strikes against Iranian targets last month, saying they were in response to Iranian attacks on vessels in the strait and aimed at "degrading Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping."
Iran responded with missile and drone attacks targeting US military bases and facilities in the region.
— IANS
Reader Comments
The leadership transition in Iran is fascinating. It seems like the new Supreme Leader is keeping a low profile, which might be strategic. India has deep historical ties with Persia, so we should watch these developments carefully.
Honestly, the US keeps creating these messes in the Middle East and then the rest of us suffer. India's oil prices are going to be affected by this Hormuz situation for sure. It's time for the international community to step in and mediate, yaar.
Interesting that the new Supreme Leader's communication is difficult. In times of crisis, strong leadership is essential, but if the leader is inaccessible, how will they manage the war situation? This could be a vulnerability for Iran. India should be prepared for any fallout.
The Iran-Oman agreement on the Strait of Hormuz is a small positive step. But the US sanctions on Iran are hurting global trade, and India is caught in the middle. We need to diversify our energy sources and not depend so much on this region, honestly.
It's sad to see how the US and Israel just go around eliminating leaders and then act surprised when there's chaos. The Iranian people have the right to choose their own path. India should continue its independent foreign policy and not get bullied into taking sides. 🇮🇳
N We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.