US-Iran Ceasefire Begins, Mojtaba Khamenei Emerges to Deliver Message

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, suddenly appeared in his latest written message, broadcast on state television late Thursday local time. He delivered the message amid talks on a ceasefire to be held between the United States (US) and Iran in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Friday (10/4/2026). He emphasised that the Islamic Republic of Iran does not want war with the US and Israel. However, he wrote, the country will protect its rights as a nation. “We do not want war and we do not desire it,” he said in the message read by a local journalist, several weeks after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a US and Israeli attack on 28 February, the first day of the war. “But we will not relinquish our legitimate rights under any circumstances, and in this regard, we consider the entire resistance front as a single entity,” he added, apparently referring to Lebanon where Israel is at war with Tehran’s ally, Hezbollah. Previously, on Tuesday, the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire. This came after President Donald Trump’s threats of “civilisation’s destruction” over the weekend. Nevertheless, new talks will begin in Pakistan today. Pakistan is mediating by bringing 10 Iranian peace conditions to the US, ranging from the management of the Strait of Hormuz, halting the war not only in Iran but also in other regions like Lebanon and Yemen, to rights over uranium management. This ceasefire is highly fragile, especially after Israel attacked Lebanon following the ceasefire announcement. Citing AFP, the simultaneous strikes on 100 targets killed 303 people and injured 1,150 others. Several countries, such as China and France, have strongly condemned Israel. Some are calling for Lebanon to be included in the ceasefire clauses. The US itself will facilitate talks between Israel and Lebanon next week. That announcement came as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered his ministers to seek direct talks with Lebanon focused on disarming Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed proxy. Meanwhile, Khamenei also told Iranian citizens on the same occasion that they “must not imagine that taking to the streets is no longer necessary”. The ceasefire announcement must not diminish nationalistic spirit. “Your voice in the public space undoubtedly influences the outcome of the negotiations,” he said, according to the message broadcast on state television. It should be noted that Mojtaba Khamenei, who was possibly injured in the attack that killed his father, has not been seen in public since his appointment as leader. He has issued written statements, mostly read by presenters on state television. US President Donald Trump even speculated that he might have died. But Iranian state television said he is recovering from his injuries and posted photos of him, without specifying when the photos were taken.