Trump Used "All Kinds of Leverage" Out of Desperation: Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has given conditional backing to a newly signed memorandum of understanding with the United States, saying Tehran’s approval depends on the protection of Iran’s national rights and the interests of the “Resistance Front”. His remarks came after a 14-point framework agreement was signed virtually by US President Donald Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.

The agreement has reopened the Strait of Hormuz and started a 60-day process for talks on a wider accord covering sanctions, regional security arrangements and Iran’s nuclear programme. Khamenei framed the deal as a step permitted under strict limits, not as a political concession to Washington or acceptance of American demands.

Khamenei says US used pressure to secure Iran agreement

Addressing the Iranian nation after the signing, Khamenei said Iranian officials had worked extensively on the negotiations. He also claimed Trump had pushed hard for the agreement because Washington urgently needed a breakthrough. His comments appeared aimed at reassuring domestic critics that Tehran had not entered the process from a position of weakness.

“As you have been informed, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the presidents of Iran and America. In the course of reaching this stage, the officials in charge, out of sincere concern and goodwill, made extensive efforts and, of course, it was the American president who, out of desperation, used all kinds of leverage to bring this about,” Khamenei said.

The remarks underline the political sensitivity of any direct or indirect understanding between Tehran and Washington. In Iran, engagement with the United States often requires careful approval from the highest levels of power. Even when elected officials lead diplomacy, the Supreme Leader’s position remains decisive in matters involving security, sanctions and the nuclear file.

Khamenei also cautioned that future face-to-face negotiations should not be read as Iran accepting the American position. “However, it is self-evident that the in-person negotiations that will take place in the future will not mean acceptance of the enemy’s position,” he said.

Why the 60-day process matters

The framework gives both sides a limited window to test whether a broader settlement is possible. The reported 60-day process is expected to focus on some of the most difficult disputes between Iran and the United States, including sanctions relief, security guarantees and restrictions or monitoring related to Iran’s nuclear programme.

The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is one of the most immediate elements of the understanding. The waterway is a critical route for global energy shipments, and any disruption raises concerns across oil-importing countries, including India. Stability in the Gulf directly affects crude prices, shipping costs and the energy security calculations of major Asian economies.

For Washington, the framework offers a possible route to reduce military and economic tension in a region where crises can quickly spread. For Tehran, the key test will be whether the process produces tangible easing of pressure without forcing concessions that its leadership considers politically or strategically unacceptable.

Khamenei’s comments suggest Iran will approach the next stage with caution. He said he had originally held a different view on the agreement but later granted permission after receiving assurances from President Pezeshkian and members of the Supreme National Security Council.

“I, as a matter of principle, held a different view; however, out of the commitment that the esteemed president--as the head of the Supreme National Security Council--gave to me on his own behalf and on behalf of the other members regarding the safeguarding of the rights of the Iranian nation and the Resistance Front, and his explicit acceptance of that responsibility, I granted my permission,” he said.

Iran signals limits before direct talks

The Supreme Leader’s statement places clear political boundaries around the next round of diplomacy. By stressing that Iranian negotiators would not accept “excessive demands”, he signalled that Tehran wants to keep pressure on Washington while allowing the process to continue.

“He also explicitly stated that if the American side seeks to make excessive demands, they will not submit to them,” Khamenei said, referring to the assurance he said he received from Pezeshkian. The wording suggests that Iran’s leadership wants any final agreement to be presented domestically as balanced and rights-based, rather than imposed under pressure.

Iran’s Ambassador to India, Mohammad Fathali, had earlier described the agreement as a possible turning point for regional and international stability, provided all parties implement their commitments in good faith. That position is significant for New Delhi, which watches Gulf security closely because of its energy imports, diaspora presence and trade links across West Asia.

The reference to the “Resistance Front” also shows that Tehran is connecting the agreement to its wider regional posture. Iran uses the term for allied political and armed groups across the region. Any final understanding with Washington may therefore have to address not only the nuclear issue and sanctions, but also broader security anxieties.

The next phase will depend on whether both governments can convert the framework into enforceable commitments. Khamenei’s conditional approval keeps the diplomatic track open, but it also warns that Iran may step back if it believes the United States is trying to expand the terms beyond what Tehran has accepted.

With inputs from ANI