Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has indicated he would accept President Masoud Pezeshkian’s resignation if submitted again, according to a senior cleric with ties to the Khamenei family. The claim emerged amid an escalating internal power struggle, with rival factions invoking the supreme leader’s authority to bolster their positions.
Supreme Leader’s reported stance on resignation
Senior cleric Mohammad-Bagher Kharrazi, whose sister is married to the supreme leader’s brother, stated that Khamenei had warned Pezeshkian his next resignation would be accepted. Kharrazi, speaking to Iran’s Tabnak media site, said the warning was intended to pressure Pezeshkian into backing down. "They’ve officially announced it. That’s why they’ve started packing up their things," Kharrazi claimed. "Pezeshkian no longer dares to do it."
Pezeshkian’s office denied the account, calling the allegation "baseless and an outright lie." Mehdi Tabatabaei, the president’s deputy for communications, stated Kharrazi had no contact with the supreme leader and was known for spreading "strange stories."
Disputed meeting between Khamenei and Pezeshkian
A second report by Iran International alleged Pezeshkian met Khamenei only once, in a vehicle with tinted windows at an undisclosed location in Tehran. According to unnamed sources, the encounter lasted several minutes, with the two men unable to see each other and Pezeshkian barred from shaking Khamenei’s hand. The report claimed Pezeshkian later questioned whether the voice he heard belonged to the supreme leader.
Pezeshkian previously described a different meeting, stating publicly he spent approximately two and a half hours with Khamenei in a cordial atmosphere. The presidency has not provided further details on the nature of the interaction.
Background: Pezeshkian’s resignation threats and political tensions
Pezeshkian was reported to have threatened resignation in late May, citing exclusion from key decision-making processes. Four senior Iranian officials told The New York Times in early July that Pezeshkian had previously threatened to resign if Khamenei rejected the Memorandum of Understanding on nuclear negotiations. In a televised interview on Tuesday, Pezeshkian denied any plans to resign, stating: "I will not resign, and I will stand firm."
Kharrazi also claimed Khamenei intended to replace Supreme National Security Council chief Mohammad-Bagher Zolghadr, a founding figure in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), with the supreme leader’s top military aide. The presidency has not commented on this assertion.
Ongoing power struggle and unverified claims
The reports highlight deepening divisions within Iran’s leadership, with factions leveraging the supreme leader’s perceived authority to advance their agendas. Analysts note that the unseen nature of Khamenei’s governance—coupled with conflicting accounts of his interactions with Pezeshkian—has fueled speculation about the stability of Iran’s political hierarchy.
All claims remain unverified by independent sources, and Pezeshkian’s office has dismissed the allegations as fabrications. The situation continues to evolve, with no further official statements issued by either the presidency or the supreme leader’s office.