Mojtaba Khamenei Stalls Negotiations… Missing Approval and a Suspended Agreement
Despite remaining out of public view since his appointment as Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei continues to represent a major obstacle to reaching an agreement between Tehran and Washington.
The New York Times reported that a U.S. official stated that Iranian civilian and military intermediaries had informed Washington that Khamenei feels comfortable with the preliminary agreement proposed with the United States. However, he has not yet granted final approval or publicly expressed direct support for the deal.
The American official described Khamenei’s position as a positive sign within negotiating circles, despite the uncertainty and confusion prevailing in Tehran regarding the final decision on whether to accept the agreement.
The anticipated agreement is expected to focus on de-escalation and the launch of a new negotiating track, while more complex issues, such as Iran’s nuclear program and economic sanctions, would be postponed to a later stage of discussions.
According to the same official, Iran would not receive economic benefits merely by signing the memorandum of understanding. He stressed that any financial assistance or sanctions relief would be conditional upon Tehran fulfilling the commitments required of it.
He further explained that the transfer of highly enriched uranium or the dismantling of Iranian nuclear facilities would be met gradually with economic and financial incentives provided by the United States.
In addition to the absence of a clear position from Mojtaba Khamenei, the leadership of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has yet to determine its stance on the proposed agreement. That decision is expected to be decisive in shaping both the future of the agreement and the course of forthcoming negotiations.
