NYT: Iranian president persuaded supreme leader to accept ceasefire

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian persuaded Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to approve a ceasefire and authorise negotiations with the United States after warning that the country's economic situation had become critical, according to The New York Times.

Citing people familiar with the matter, the newspaper reported that Khamenei had been fundamentally opposed to agreeing to a ceasefire and opening negotiations with Washington.

However, Pezeshkian reportedly argued that Iran's economy was on the verge of collapse and warned that the country could face severe shortages of food and medicine within weeks if the crisis continued.

The president's assessment of the deteriorating economic conditions ultimately convinced Khamenei to approve both the ceasefire and diplomatic engagement with the United States.

By Sabina Mammadli