Tehran, July 2 -- Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has strongly defended Tehran's ongoing indirect negotiations with the United States, firmly rejecting domestic criticism that his administration acted without higher theological approval.

Speaking at a meeting with officials from the Islamic Development Coordination Council's commemoration headquarters, Pezeshkian insisted that all diplomatic manoeuvres have been executed strictly within the Islamic Republic's established decision-making structures and under the strategic guidance of the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.

Addressing mounting accusations from hardline factions that his government bypassed the country's ultimate authority, Pezeshkian clarified that the executive bra...