In light of regional and international anticipation of the Iranian response to the American proposal to stop the war, the Iranian Foreign Ministry revealed the pivotal role of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in managing sensitive files, stressing that no strategic decision is taken without his direct approval.
Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei said on Thursday, “The Supreme Leader manages the latest developments in the situation and no action can be taken without his permission,” adding that “Mojtaba Khamenei has complete supervision over all matters and issues.”
Baghaei’s statements came at a time when Tehran is still studying the latest American proposal to stop the war, as he stressed that Iran “has not yet reached a conclusion” regarding the American offer, and has not provided any official response to Washington yet, according to Tasnim Agency.
In parallel, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced that he met with Mojtaba Khamenei on an unspecified date, in the first official reference to a direct meeting with him since his appointment as Supreme Leader to succeed Ali Khamenei.
In a statement broadcast on Iranian state television, Pezeshkian said, “What caught me most in this meeting was the vision of the Supreme Leader and his humble and sincere approach.”
This comes after the Iranian Assembly of Experts announced, on March 9, 2026, the election of Mojtaba Khamenei as the new Supreme Leader, following the killing of his father, Ali Khamenei, in strikes that occurred at the beginning of the war, according to the official narrative circulating at the time.
Since his appointment, Mojtaba Khamenei has kept a limited appearance, and his positions have been limited to written statements, amid widespread secrecy surrounding his movements and his role in managing the confrontation with the United States and Israel.
These developments coincide with the escalation of political and military pressure on Tehran, in light of the continuation of the war and the intensification of international contacts aimed at reaching an understanding to stop the escalation, especially with talk of proposals related to the nuclear file, the Strait of Hormuz, and economic sanctions.
