Iran's Politics Fractured as US Talks Become Influence Battleground

Iran's political scene is increasingly divided, with the pursuit of an agreement with the United States igniting a clash between factions supporting negotiations and hardline groups opposing them. This internal strife is intensifying pressure on President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, key figures aiming for a deal with Washington to end nearly six months of animosity.

Hardliners are concerned that any agreement with the U.S. could reduce their political sway and dictate Iran's future direction, thus transforming the negotiations into a new arena for power struggles within the country's leadership. This tension is highlighted by leaked audio and video recordings that raise questions about the stance of Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, regarding the talks, as well as the positions of Pezeshkian and Ghalibaf.

One leaked video features Mohammad-Bagher Kharrazi, the brother-in-law of Masoud Khamenei, claiming that Mojtaba would accept Pezeshkian's resignation if the president attempted to step down again. However, the Supreme Leader's public relations office denied the report without directly naming Kharrazi. Shortly after, another audio recording emerged featuring senior conservative figure Ali Saeedi, who alleged that Mojtaba supports negotiations with the U.S. and disagrees with the hardline stance against diplomacy.

These developments illustrate the growing divergence of views within Iran's political circles as Tehran grapples with the decision of whether to pursue diplomatic efforts with Washington or adopt a more assertive approach. A senior reformist source told Middle East Eye (MEE) that hardliners previously did not want Mojtaba to succeed his father, preferring their own candidate for the top position. The source also claimed that in recent years, these groups have repeatedly targeted individuals close to Mojtaba with corruption allegations to undermine their credibility.

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Mojtaba may have some hardline stances, but he is not the figure who has led the ultra-conservatives over the past decade.