'Supreme Leader has the final word': Iran FM Araghchi reveals who decides on war, ceasefire

Iran has declared that the ceasefire with the United States under the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) has ended, signalling a new phase in the conflict between the two countries. The announcement comes days after US President Donald Trump unveiled the temporary ceasefire agreement.

Final call on war or ceasefire rests with Supreme Leader

Speaking to Tehran Times on Sunday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country's Supreme National Security Council evaluates the situation surrounding war and ceasefire proposals, but the final decision is made by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

"The Supreme National Security Council is responsible for assessing the situation regarding war or a ceasefire, but the final decision rests with the Supreme Leader," Araghchi said.

He explained that members of the council submit assessments based on their respective responsibilities before any decision is taken.

Overnight meeting approved MoU

Araghchi said the Supreme National Security Council met from 9 pm until 3 am to approve the memorandum of understanding with the United States.

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He added that the initial ceasefire was accepted through smaller meetings outside the council because it was not possible to convene the full body at the time. According to him, Iran agreed to the ceasefire only on the condition that future negotiations would be based on Tehran's 10 proposed points.

Iran says diplomacy was exhausted

Responding to criticism from rival political factions over the temporary understanding with Washington, Araghchi defended Tehran's decision to resume talks.

He said negotiations were restarted after the United States again demanded that Iran accept zero uranium enrichment while also threatening military action.

"The decision was made to restart negotiations to make clear that Iran had exhausted diplomatic options," Araghchi said.

Araghchi says he has never met Khamenei

In the same interview, Araghchi revealed that he has never met Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei in person.

"Only a handful of people have met him," the Iranian foreign minister said.

Khamenei accuses US of violating ceasefire

Hours after Iran announced it was ending its commitments under the interim agreement, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei accused Washington of repeatedly violating the Islamabad MoU.

In a post on X on Saturday, Khamenei referred to the United States as the "Great Satan" and said repeated violations had demonstrated that US President Donald Trump's signature was "utterly worthless and devoid of credibility."

"The repeated breaches of the agreement by the Great Satan [the US] regarding the MOU signed by the Presidents of Iran and the US have once again laid bare a fundamental truth: the signature of the US President is utterly worthless and devoid of credibility," Khamenei wrote.

Ceasefire collapse raises fresh uncertainty

Iran's announcement that the ceasefire under the Islamabad MoU has ended has cast fresh doubt over the future of the temporary understanding reached with the United States, raising concerns that tensions between Tehran and Washington could escalate further.