‘Araghchi, be ashamed’: Iranian hardliners protest emerging US deal - report

Iranian hardliners took to the streets in Tehran and Mashhad to protest an emerging agreement with the United States, directing their anger at the country's negotiating team and senior officials. The demonstrations occurred on Saturday night, according to reports from the Arabic newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

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Araghchi, be ashamed and leave the country

In Tehran, demonstrators gathered in a central square, chanting slogans such as “Araghchi, be ashamed and leave the country” and “Ghalibaf, Araghchi - what about the blood of our leader?” directed at Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. A separate protest in Mashhad outside a Foreign Ministry office also targeted Araghchi with slogans.

Public opposition to the emerging deal appears to be concentrated within Iran's conservative camp, with many activists and lawmakers publicly voicing concerns. These individuals are reportedly aligned with circles close to Saeed Jalili, the former secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council.

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Ghalibaf, Araghchi - what about the blood of our leader?

Hardline media also joined the criticism. Hossein Shariatmadari, editor of the newspaper Kayhan, questioned the framework of the deal in an editorial, particularly concerning the potential reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. He challenged the logic of relinquishing control over the waterway, describing it as a significant bargaining chip for Iran, and questioned how compensation could be secured from the U.S. and its partners if the strait were reopened. The conservative Fars News Agency also reported on what it described as President Trump’s “strange insistence” on signing a memorandum of understanding.

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Did closing the Strait of Hormuz really block the commercial and economic breathing route of the enemy?