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World
Imminent US-Iran agreement sparks fierce backlash in Tehran, with Revolutionary Guards and conservatives attacking Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi.
The prospect of an imminent agreement with Washington has created a deep political rift within Tehran, placing Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi under intense fire from hardline factions and Revolutionary Guards commanders.
While Masoud Pezeshkian’s government has promoted the anticipated deal as a lifeline for Iran’s economy, conservative groups have launched an open confrontation against official diplomacy. They regard the recent moves as strategic concessions that undermine the country’s nuclear and regional leverage, escalating the dispute from closed-door discussions to parliamentary debates and street protests.
The public dispute ignited through media outlets affiliated with the hardline wing, with the Fars news agency, close to the Revolutionary Guards, leading a sharp attack on Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi. They described his diplomatic statements as “ambiguous and weak” due to his failure to decisively respond to US President Donald Trump’s remarks.
Fars cited sources denying any imminent understandings in Geneva, labeling the circulating reports as baseless rumors. This stance coincided with the official IRNA agency retracting previously published details of the agreement’s provisions, reflecting the confusion within Iran’s decision-making circles.
The internal debate intensified after Donald Trump intervened via his platform Truth Social, reposting Araqchi’s message reassuring the public about the near completion of a final understanding. This followed Trump’s accusations against Iranian media of spreading misleading information.
The political turmoil quickly spilled into the streets, where large crowds gathered in Tehran and Mashhad outside the Foreign Ministry. Protesters chanted slogans accusing Araqchi of “concessions” and demanded his immediate resignation. In response, Araqchi appeared on state television attempting to quell the anger and justify the government’s diplomatic stance.
The Iranian parliament was not immune to the upheaval, as conservative lawmakers launched fierce attacks. MP Mahmoud Nabavian described the current draft agreement as an American guardianship over Iran’s nuclear future and an unacceptable concession on enriched uranium.
Similarly, Hossein Shariatmadari, the Supreme Leader’s representative at Kayhan newspaper, directed his criticism at Parliament Speaker Qalibaf and Deputy Foreign Minister Araqchi. He warned against relinquishing control over the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s key strategic leverage, which might be reopened as part of the deal.
Despite President Pezeshkian’s efforts to contain the situation and defend his team against accusations of “betrayal,” urging factions to adhere to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s guidance, the military tone dominated. Hardline MPs emphasized that any political negotiations must be accompanied by the language of “missiles and drones,” dismissing peace with Washington as an impossible illusion. Consequently, Iran’s leadership faces a dual challenge: crafting an external agreement with Trump while preventing a domestic political explosion that could reset relations to zero.
