President Pezeshkian holds meeting with Supreme Leader Khamenei: Iranian media
Tehran, Aug 9
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Saturday met the Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei, and discussed several issues, local media reported.
According to Iran's semi-official Mehr news agency, the Supreme Leader and the President held a detailed discussion regarding the issues and problems of the country, particularly meeting the people's livelihood needs.
It noted that they also discussed the current conditions of the conflict and the future ahead, along with developments in resources, expenditure, energy and economic interaction with foreign countries.
On Wednesday, Pezeshkian said communication with 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 February 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.
"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.
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Aragchi on Sunday stated that there are currently no ongoing negotiations with the United States.
The Foreign Minister's stance came while speaking to reporters at the Centre for Political and International Studies of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported.
"We currently have no negotiations with the United States. Intermediaries are still making efforts to find ways to resume negotiations. From our perspective, there can be no resumption of talks until the United States ends its violations of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and makes amends for the breaches it has committed," Aragchi said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
Interesting how the article mentions the US and Israel killing the former Supreme Leader. These are serious allegations that need proper international investigation. The situation in the Middle East affects global oil prices and economies everywhere, including India.
The banking sanctions on Iran are affecting many developing countries. India's Chabahar port project is crucial for trade with Afghanistan and Central Asia. Hope the new leadership can navigate these challenges and maintain regional cooperation. 🤝
The new Supreme Leader being the son of the previous one raises questions about dynastic succession. While every country has its own political system, I wonder if the Iranian people are satisfied with this arrangement. Communication difficulties between the President and Leader don't bode well for governance.
As someone who follows international relations, the naval blockade and intensified sanctions are concerning. Iran has a significant diaspora in India and historical cultural ties with us. A diplomatic solution is what everyone should be working toward, not more confrontation.
The US-Iran standoff has been going on for decades now. It's sad to see ordinary citizens suffer due to political conflicts. The new leader's statement that communication is difficult suggests internal challenges as well. Let's hope for peace and stability in the region - it's important for India's energy security too.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.