Hawzah News Agency- Speaking during Friday prayers, Ayatollah Mousavi pointed to recent political and military developments, stating that these shifts signal important changes in the negotiation process between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States. He confirmed that Tehran has suspended its participation in the new round of talks in protest against the Zionist regime’s ongoing military operations in Lebanon.
The senior cleric noted that the dominant headline across media and political circles is US President Donald Trump’s acceptance of fourteen conditions put forward by the Iranian negotiating team. He added that Trump has signed a document referred to as a "memorandum of understanding" to reach a final agreement within a specified timeframe.
Ayatollah Mousavi further said that American media outlets have reported dissatisfaction among both Republican and Democratic circles, with opponents characterizing the agreement as a “US defeat in negotiations and Iran walking away with the upper hand.”
Turning to the Zionist regime’s stance, he made clear that the regime is completely opposed to the agreement, with its officials viewing it as a political and military failure, which is why they insist on continuing the war and derailing any understanding.
The Baghdad Friday Prayer leader also stressed that despite American pressure, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has practically failed to abide by the terms of the agreement, continuing military escalation. He pointed to southern Lebanon and the "Ali al-Taher" area north of Nabatieh, where an Israeli advance was met with a fierce response from the Lebanese Resistance, resulting in a number of officers and soldiers from the regime being killed or wounded.
He stressed that Iran’s stance has been clear from the outset, with its primary condition being a complete cessation of hostilities across all fronts of the Resistance Axis prior to any final agreement. According to Ayatollah Mousavi, Tehran has informed mediators that without a halt to the aggression against Lebanon on the ground, at sea, and in the air, it will not participate in the negotiations.
The cleric added that Iran was prepared to attend the new round of talks but suspended this process due to recent field developments in southern Lebanon. He said the situation now stands between two scenarios: a further intensification of the conflict, or genuine pressure from Washington on the Zionist regime to implement a ceasefire and withdraw.
Emphasizing the true nature of the war, he stated that this confrontation is “not Iran’s war alone,” but rather “the war of the Islamic Ummah, its history, and its future,” adding that it is a battle for the pure religion, defense of independence, freedom, and dignity, and is not confined to any one country.
Ayatollah Mousavi declared that the Islamic Republic of Iran has not only defended its own people but has also supported Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq, standing alongside nations grappling with terrorism and occupation as part of its religious and moral duty.
Addressing the negotiations, he noted that the Iranian leadership views the talks as a tool, not as a primary option, since the United States uses the process to serve its own interests and expand its influence rather than to reach just solutions.
Mousavi stated that engagement in the talks has been accepted as a conditional political opportunity, one that safeguards the interests of the Iranian nation and its fundamental principles without allowing the process to become a tool for achieving the enemy’s goals.
Regarding the proposed agreement's terms, the Friday Prayer leader indicated that a substantial portion of Iran’s conditions has been incorporated, including the lifting of economic sanctions, the release of Iran’s frozen assets, and the implementation of reconstruction and development projects.
He stressed that even with the concessions offered, Iran has not backed down from supporting Lebanon and the Axis of Resistance, demonstrating the depth of the country's ideological steadfastness.
In a message to Iraqi officials, Ayatollah Mousavi said the relationship between Iran and Iraq is not merely geographical but is a bond founded on faith, Islam, history, and a shared destiny.
He also paid tribute to the sacrifices of the Islamic Resistance in Lebanon, saying its strength does not depend on individuals but rests on the spirit of sacrifice and Jihad. In this context, he honored the legacy of martyr "Abu Hussein Sajed Ali Moussa Daqduq," praising his role in combating occupation and defending the causes of the Islamic Ummah.
He concluded by asserting that martyrdom remains the path of the free, and the blood of martyrs is not a loss but rather a source of strength, dignity, and fortitude. Those who attain martyrdom achieve victory, he said, and those who remain will continue the path of Resistance until the Ummah secures its dignity and freedom.
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