President and Supreme Leader not at odds, says Pezeshkian, rejecting foreign media reports
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Tehran: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has dismissed foreign media reports claiming there are serious differences between Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and the country's leadership. He said his meetings with the Supreme Leader had been highly productive and that Khamenei had treated him with great compassion and a rational approach.
"Taking advantage of the current extraordinary circumstances, certain destructive elements are attempting to spread false narratives and misinformation about the Supreme Leader," Pezeshkian said.
Meanwhile, reports claim that the Supreme Leader has issued a "final warning" to the President and has expressed full support for Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander Ahmad Vahidi in diplomatic negotiations and key wartime decisions.
Quoting sources in Tehran, Israeli news channel Channel 14 reported that amid internal disputes within Iran's leadership, the Supreme Leader had effectively stripped Pezeshkian of his political influence. The report further claimed that Khamenei had made it clear he would not prevent the President from resigning if he once again offered to step down, as he had reportedly threatened to do during previous policy disagreements.
Reports also suggested that in May, Pezeshkian formally submitted his resignation, alleging that his administration had been completely sidelined in matters relating to national security and foreign policy. Observers say Khamenei's current hardline stance reflects his complete alignment with Iran's military establishment, significantly reducing Pezeshkian's role in shaping strategic policies.
Meanwhile, tensions between Iran and the United States continue to fuel fears across the region. US President Donald Trump said negotiations with Iran over reopening the Strait of Hormuz were progressing well and that an announcement would be made soon. Iran is holding the talks through Omani mediators.
Iran is demanding full control over the Strait of Hormuz and the lifting of US sanctions. Under the proposed arrangement, ships would enter only through waters adjacent to Iran, while vessels leaving the Strait would be permitted to use the channel on the Omani side. Reports indicate that discussions have moved in a favourable direction.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed hope that cargo shipping through the Strait of Hormuz would resume later this week. Iran, however, maintains that it is not negotiating directly with the United States and is holding talks only with Oman. Qatar is also said to be involved in the discussions.
Trump has warned that the United States would launch its strongest-ever attack on Iran if the negotiations fail. However, reports claim that the US has already exhausted its global stockpile of long-range missiles in operations against Iran.
Meanwhile, Yemen's Houthi movement has intensified its blockade of commercial shipping in the Red Sea. Reports say the Houthis have attacked another Saudi oil tanker, bringing the number of vessels targeted in recent days to eight. Ansar Allah, the Houthi movement, claimed that it has blocked 29 Saudi vessels and warned that all Saudi ships would continue to be targeted until the blockade on Yemen is lifted.