Rare Dispute Erupts in Iran's Leadership Over US Memorandum of Understanding

A Hebrew report revealed that members of Iran's Assembly of Experts, the body responsible for electing the Supreme Leader, engaged in an unusual exchange of accusations concerning a memorandum of understanding with Washington, highlighting internal disputes over negotiations with the United States.

The i24 Hebrew channel reported that a public disagreement erupted within the Assembly after most members issued a statement regarding the memorandum signed with the US, prompting an uncommon public reprimand from the Assembly's leadership within hours.

According to the Arabic-language Hebrew site, the conflict began when 62 out of 88 Assembly members released a joint, sharply worded statement that exceeded the usual protocol of the typically conservative and silent body.

In their statement, the members strongly opposed any concessions in the negotiations and called for the continuation of what they termed "armed struggle against the West and Israel."

The report indicated that the majority's statement went beyond political criticism, adopting an extreme tone. The signatories asserted that upholding the "red lines" set by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is a "religious duty" that must not be violated under any circumstances, according to their wording.

The Assembly members also demanded punishment for those responsible for the assassination of the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, naming US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

They stated that anyone with access to these individuals has a "religious duty" to eliminate them.

The Hebrew report added that the signatories described the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz while the conflict in Lebanon persists as a "strategic mistake" and called for Iran's nuclear rights to be excluded from any negotiations, as they expressed it.

The Assembly's leadership responded promptly by issuing a public clarification that included a reprimand for the members who signed the statement.

Although the Assembly's Secretariat emphasized its loyalty to Mojtaba Khamenei, it criticized the breach of procedures and the issuance of a statement that does not represent the Assembly's official and unified position.

The clarification stated: "Official positions must be published through authorized institutions." It added: "The signatories should have sought a broader discussion to preserve unity."

Separately, the Mehr news agency reported that the number of signatures supporting the Assembly of Experts' statement calling for the prosecution of those responsible for the Supreme Leader's assassination exceeded 17,000 within one day of launching the campaign.

According to data from the campaign's website, 17,192 individuals signed the petition, expressing their support for the statement's contents.