Questions are mounting over whether Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is directly involved in Tehran’s ongoing negotiations with the United States, according to a report by Iran International, which cited a source close to the talks.
The report said doubts have emerged over whether parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Iran’s negotiating team are fully coordinated with Khamenei as discussions continue with the administration of US President Donald Trump. The source claimed there were “serious ambiguities” surrounding how much Khamenei knows about the negotiations and the extent of understanding between Tehran’s representatives and Washington.
The uncertainty has reportedly deepened following recent trips by Ghalibaf and Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi to Qatar, alongside what Iran International described as the negotiating team’s reluctance to continue talks in Tehran or travel to Pakistan. The developments have fuelled speculation over who is directing the diplomatic process inside the Islamic Republic at a time when indirect negotiations with Washington remain fragile.
The report comes amid heightened tensions in the Gulf despite ongoing diplomatic efforts to end the conflict. The US military on Thursday accused Iran of violating a fragile ceasefire after Kuwait reported intercepting missiles and drones allegedly launched by Tehran. US Central Command described the attack as an “egregious ceasefire violation”, while Kuwait condemned what it called “blatant aggression”.
Iran acknowledged launching retaliatory attacks following earlier US strikes, though it did not directly confirm targeting Kuwait. The latest escalation followed fresh US “defensive” strikes on Iranian drone infrastructure and missile launch sites near the Strait of Hormuz.
Even as clashes continue, Trump has maintained that negotiations are progressing. Speaking at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday, the president said Iran was “negotiating on fumes” and insisted he would not rush into a deal because of the upcoming US midterm elections.
Under the framework currently being discussed, Iran could agree to surrender its stockpile of highly enriched uranium in exchange for sanctions relief, according to regional and US officials familiar with the negotiations. However, major disagreements remain unresolved, including the future of Iran-backed groups such as Hezbollah and the broader scope of any ceasefire agreement.
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