On Monday, August 3, the Presidium of the Assembly of Experts issued a statement expressing full support for the positions of Mojtaba Khamenei, the third Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic. The assembly described hopes for an agreement or understanding with the United States as “futile” and labelled what it termed “whispers of capitulation in the name of defending peace” an “unforgivable betrayal.”
The statement was released hours after Masoud Pezeshkian, President of the Islamic Republic, referred to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding as the product of “collective wisdom” within the Supreme National Security Council, describing it as the future “centre of gravity” of Iran’s foreign relations.
In a post on X, formerly Twitter, Pezeshkian wrote that efforts must be made to compel the United States to fulfil its commitments under the agreement.
Criticising proponents of negotiations with the US, the Presidium of the Assembly of Experts wrote in its statement: “In these sensitive historical circumstances, whispers of capitulation from rumour-mongers and conspirators under the guise of defending peace constitute an unforgivable betrayal,” adding that taking legal action against such conduct is the duty of officials.
