Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, has publicly distanced himself from a recent agreement with the United States. He assigned responsibility for the deal to Iran’s president and emphasized that acceding to U.S. demands was not the intention.

In a recent statement, Khamenei revealed that he had given his consent to the agreement but did not support signing it as a principle. The agreement reportedly offers Iran significant economic benefits while postponing nuclear program discussions for a future date.

Khamenei stated that Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, opted to take responsibility for the agreement. Pezeshkian is expected to defend Iranian rights and the “resistance front,” a likely nod to Hezbollah, the Iran-backed militant group engaged in conflict with Israel.

Khamenei assured that Pezeshkian would not yield to excessive U.S. demands, reflecting a firm stance against potential overreach. While praising Iranian diplomats, Khamenei criticized former President Trump, suggesting that desperation led to the agreement.

This move effectively places the onus for the agreement on Iran’s elected officials. Despite existing within a hybrid system with elected institutions, the Iranian government remains significantly influenced by theocratic components, such as the supreme leader.