Iran-US talks in Switzerland raise questions about Khameneis position

Iran and the United States Launch Historic Peace Talks with 60-Day Roadmap

Tehran, Iran – Senior officials from Iran and the United States met in Switzerland on Sunday as part of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at ending the war launched by the US and Israel in late February. The talks were mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, with Vice President JD Vance leading the US team.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi led the Iranian delegation. However, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei expressed reservations about the MoU in a written statement released on Thursday. He stated that he approved the agreement after President Masoud Pezeshkian accepted responsibility.

The director general of the Islamic Republic of Iran News Network (IRINN) resigned following a live interview with Mahmoud Nabavian, a hardline cleric and legislator who claimed to have correspondence between Khamenei and unnamed top officials in the Supreme National Security Council. The interview reportedly discussed Khamenei’s opposition to the ceasefire that started on April 8.

In response, President Pezeshkian described the MoU as a “historic document” reflecting the voice of the Iranian nation. The Supreme National Security Council released a statement saying it would safeguard the rights of the Iranian nation and the resistance front while honouring the memory of leaders killed in the war.

Multiple sources have confirmed that most top decision-makers support the MoU, with only Saeed Jalili reportedly voting against the deal. Iran’s joint military command reported that the Strait of Hormuz was closed again due to Israel’s continued attacks on Lebanon, but the US military stated that the waterway remained open to all vessels.

The talks are part of a 60-day roadmap aimed at advancing the MoU and ending the war.

Source: Al Jazeera