Pezeshkian defends US Negotiations, affirming alignment within Iran's Post-Khamenei leadership framework
Tehran, July 2
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has strongly defended Tehran's ongoing indirect negotiations with the United States, firmly rejecting domestic criticism that his administration acted without higher theological approval.
Speaking at a meeting with officials from the Islamic Development Coordination Council's commemoration headquarters, Pezeshkian insisted that all diplomatic manoeuvres have been executed strictly within the Islamic Republic's established decision-making structures and under the strategic guidance of the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.
Addressing mounting accusations from hardline factions that his government bypassed the country's ultimate authority, Pezeshkian clarified that the executive branch operates entirely in tandem with the leadership.
"If the leadership had ordered no negotiations, we would have certainly obeyed. If he had ordered that no meeting or negotiation be held, we would not have held a meeting or negotiated," he said.
Pezeshkian detailed that the process was explicitly deferred by the Supreme Leader to the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) under a clear democratic threshold within the council.
According to the President, the Supreme Leader mandated that if three-quarters of the SNSC voted in favour, the diplomatic track should proceed. Pezeshkian revealed that the mandate passed overwhelmingly: 12 out of 13 members did not just vote in favour but actively debated and firmly supported the measures.
"All measures taken have been taken within the framework of the system's approved policies and based on the country's macro-strategies," Pezeshkian added, reinforcing that the administration is following a path of strict "coherence and coordination."
The political defence comes at a delicate transitional moment for Iran following the recent death of its long-serving Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While the country prepares for extensive funeral ceremonies, back-channel diplomacy has continued to move forward in Qatar.
Mediators from Qatar and Pakistan successfully concluded separate, indirect sessions with U.S. and Iranian negotiators in Doha. Majed Al Ansari, adviser to Qatar's prime minister and official spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed on X that "positive progress" had been achieved regarding the 14-point Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).
The Doha talks built directly upon the framework laid out during the recent Lake Lucerne Summit in Switzerland. Qatari officials stated that diplomatic teams have agreed to pause active discussions to allow the Iranian delegation to return for the state funeral processions, with the next round of meetings slated to be scheduled at the earliest possible window afterwards.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Hmm, Pezeshkian sounds like he's walking a tightrope. He's trying to reassure hardliners by saying 'leadership ordered us,' but also asserting his own government's authority through the SNSC vote. The 14-point Islamabad MoU seems promising, especially with Qatar and Pakistan as mediators. Pakistan's involvement is interesting given their own history with the Taliban. From India's perspective, any de-escalation between Iran and US is welcome—it reduces oil price volatility and keeps Gulf shipping lanes open. Let's see if the next round after the funeral actually happens.
Very carefully crafted words from Pezeshkian: "If the leadership had ordered no negotiations, we would have obeyed." This is classic Iranian political theatre. The 'coherence and coordination' he talks about is necessary for post-Khamenei stability. For India, the key takeaway here is that Iran's foreign policy apparatus still works—a functioning government in Tehran is critical for Afghanistan-related talks, Chabahar port operations, and ensuring that the India-Iran-Russia axis isn't disrupted. Let's hope the Islamabad MoU brings some genuine progress.
The 12-13 SNSC vote is a clear signal, but I'm skeptical. Iran's supreme leader has final say regardless of council votes. Pezeshkian's 'if leadership ordered no negotiations' statement reveals the real power structure—the SNSC vote is just a rubber stamp. The Qatar-Pakistan mediation is interesting, especially with the Islamabad MoU framework. For India, stable Iran is good, but we shouldn't forget that Iran has its own strategic interests that don't always align with ours, especially regarding Afghanistan and the Taliban.
I hope this fragile diplomacy works. As an Indian, I'm tired of seeing our Chabahar investments get held hostage
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