Friday prayer leader says officials should follow Khamenei’s original position

An Iranian lawmaker warned that reopening the Strait of Hormuz before a full ceasefire in Lebanon and an Israeli withdrawal would amount to the “premature birth” of the US memorandum’s implementation.

Meysam Zohourian wrote on X that any opening in the Strait of Hormuz before those conditions were met would signal Iran’s acceptance of implementing the memorandum with Washington.

The phrase sharpened criticism of the sequencing of the agreement, suggesting that movement on Hormuz could hand Washington an early win before Iran’s demands on Lebanon are met.

A member of parliament’s National Security Committee criticized Iran’s announced 60-day fee waiver for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, questioning why Israeli vessels should be allowed to transit without payment.

Mahmoud Nabavian wrote on X that, according to the Supreme National Security Council, Iran would not charge commercial ships crossing the strait during the 60-day period. He asked whether the decision reflected Iran’s own choice or had been made under US pressure.

Nabavian said allowing Israeli ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without payment contradicted Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s position on cutting off Israel’s economic arteries.

The spokesman for parliament’s National Security Committee criticized continued International Atomic Energy Agency inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities, saying they violated a law suspending cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.

Ebrahim Rezaei wrote on X that parliament would resist what he described as violations of the law and surrender.

“Parliament will stand against lawbreaking and capitulation,” he said.

Tehran’s interim Friday prayer leader said Iran’s support for Hezbollah last week carried several messages, including what he described as a display of unity across the so-called “Resistance Front.”

Ahmad Khatami told worshippers at Friday prayers in Tehran that what Iranian officials say about war is not rhetoric and is implemented in practice.

He described the United States and Israel as untrustworthy, saying they do not understand negotiation or ceasefires and only understand force.

The head of communications, media and cultural affairs at Iran’s parliament said the same strategic command guides both negotiations with the United States and the military field, after Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei said he had approved the understanding despite opposing it.

Iman Shamsaei described Khamenei’s message as a sign of democracy, arguing that the decision showed political responsibility rather than one-man rule.

“The negotiation war room is the same as the battlefield war room,” he said, adding that any threat would face a rapid response.

Khamenei earlier said he had agreed to implement the understanding with Washington after President Masoud Pezeshkian accepted responsibility for safeguarding Iran’s rights.