In a message addressed to the Leader on Thursday night, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi expressed appreciation for the Leader’s “wise and guiding message,” saying it would serve as “a beacon for all officials involved in the country’s foreign policy.”
Addressing Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei, the foreign minister said he was grateful for the Leader’s guidance, strategic direction, and valuable support.
“These compassionate directions,” Araqchi stated, “will undoubtedly serve as a firm support for safeguarding national dignity, protecting the rights of the great Iranian nation, and responsibly advancing the ideals of the Islamic Revolution.”
The foreign minister further pledged that Iran’s diplomatic apparatus would devote all of its capacities to achieving the country’s higher national interests.
Araqchi said, “I assure you that all capabilities of the country’s foreign policy apparatus will be employed to secure the supreme interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran, preserve the rights of the noble Iranian nation, and safeguard the dignity, independence, and strength of this land, within the framework of the principles and foundations emphasized by Your Eminence.”
He added that Iran’s diplomatic team would “spare no effort” in achieving these goals and protecting national interests.
The message came after Ayatollah Seyed Mojtaba Khamenei issued a statement on Thursday evening concerning the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States.
In that message, the Leader said he had authorized the signing of the agreement because of commitments made by government officials to protect the rights of the Iranian nation and the Resistance Front.
Addressing the public, he said a memorandum of understanding had been signed between the presidents of Iran and the United States and noted that Iranian officials had made extensive efforts to reach that stage, while arguing that the US president had resorted to various pressure tools out of desperation.
The Leader added that although he had initially held a different view, he granted permission after receiving assurances from President Pezeshkian, in his capacity as chairman of the Supreme National Security Council, and other council members that they would safeguard Iran’s rights and reject excessive American demands. He also emphasized that any future face-to-face negotiations would not mean accepting the enemy’s position.
The 14-point MoU was signed remotely in the early hours of Thursday by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and US President Donald Trump, who was attending the G7 summit in France. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who mediated the months-long diplomatic effort, also signed the memorandum and announced that the agreement took effect immediately.