Iranian President Pezeshkian Denies Resignation Rumors Amid Reports of Internal Friction

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian denied rumors that he would step down from his position during a televised address on Tuesday. Pezeshkian stated that he will not resign and will continue the struggle, asserting that he is in complete alignment with the Iranian armed forces and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. He added that if he were to resign, he would announce it publicly.

The president's denial follows claims from senior cleric Mohammad Bagher Kharrazi, a relative of the supreme leader, that Khamenei warned Pezeshkian that his resignation would be accepted if submitted again. Reports from Iran International and the New York Times suggest Pezeshkian may have previously threatened to resign over exclusion from decision making and disagreements regarding a Memorandum of Understanding with the United States.

Further reports indicate potential leadership shifts within the regime. Kharrazi claimed that Supreme National Security Council chief Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr might be replaced by Mohsen Rezaei, and that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was told not to interfere with negotiations. These developments occur as officials debate the control of the Strait of Hormuz. While Araghchi reportedly supports a proposal involving Omani waters, Zolghadr has advocated for tightening the closure of the strait in response to US actions.

The conflict between the US and Iran has seen periods of open military engagement, including joint US and Israeli strikes in February and subsequent Iranian retaliations. Although a peace memorandum brokered by Pakistan was signed in June, the truce fractured last month following reciprocal strikes before US President Donald Trump halted airstrikes.