Mojtaba Khamenei grants the Iranian government powers for negotiations with the United States

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has granted the government “certain powers” in an attempt to end the war with the United States, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced on Monday. The decision represents the latest development in diplomatic efforts to prevent hostilities from resuming.

Pezeshkian said Tehran is seeking to resolve the conflict through dialogue, without specifying what additional powers had been transferred to the government. Iran says exchanges of messages with the United States are continuing through mediators.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed that “very intense” talks are taking place and highlighted Qatar’s and Pakistan’s roles in the negotiations. According to The Wall Street Journal, U.S. Vice President JD Vance allegedly sent a letter to Mohsen Rezaei, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, calling for negotiations to resume and for further U.S. attacks to be avoided.

Meanwhile, Rezaei discussed the situation in the Middle East with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The contacts are taking place amid intensifying threats from the United States and Israel to resume hostilities against Iran.