Iran`s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei says he initially disagreed with the memorandum of understanding, but allowed it to go ahead after assurances from Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, writes BBC.

"I, as a matter of principle, held a different view; however, out of the commitment that the esteemed [Iranian] president - as the head of the Supreme National Security Council - gave to me on his own behalf and on behalf of the other members regarding the safeguarding of the rights of the Iranian nation and the Resistance Front, and his explicit acceptance of that responsibility, I granted my permission", - says Mojtaba Khamenei.