Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is being positioned as the scapegoat for the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the US on June 18, 2026, as tensions escalate in the region. Following recent strikes by the United States that resulted in at least 18 deaths, internal dissatisfaction is brewing, and the regime is increasingly targeting Pezeshkian to deflect criticism and manage public outrage.
Pezeshkian’s Role in the MoU
In a statement shortly after the MoU was signed, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei indicated that he had “a different view” on the agreement, suggesting a lack of unified support among Iran's leadership. He stated that Pezeshkian, as head of the Supreme National Security Council, had committed to safeguarding Iranian rights and accepted responsibility for the MoU.
This statement, however, notably omits the name of Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the speaker of parliament and the lead negotiator, highlighting a strategic decision to distance the leadership from accountability. “Responsibility for the negotiations was entrusted by the ‘nezam’ [the system] to Mr Ghalibaf,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed, yet Ghalibaf’s absence from Khamenei's remarks indicates a deliberate attempt to isolate Pezeshkian.
Power Dynamics in Iran
The MoU reflects a complex power struggle within Iran, particularly between the military-bonyad complex and the ideological-maximalist factions. The military-bonyad complex comprises the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and influential religious foundations, controlling significant economic resources and operating largely beyond public scrutiny.
