Inside the growing rift between Iran’s dealmakers and ultraconservatives

What Happened

Iran’s internal political rift widened as reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian and conservative Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Ghalibaf, both pursuing a deal with the United States after nearly six months of hostilities, faced intensified pressure from principlists (ultraconservatives). A leaked video featured Mohammad-Bagher Kharrazi (brother-in-law of Masoud Khamenei, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s younger brother) claiming that Mojtaba Khamenei had stated Pezeshkian’s resignation would be accepted if he tried again, and that Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was sidelined from negotiations by Khamenei’s order. The supreme leader’s office denied the remarks. A second leaked audio of conservative figure Ali Saeedi asserted Khamenei supports the negotiations, criticized hard-line opposition, and compared Ghalibaf to former Quds Force commander Qassem Soleimani. Anonymous reformist and conservative sources described a power struggle in which principlists aim to politically marginalize Pezeshkian and Ghalibaf, fearing an agreement would weaken their influence, and have staged sit-ins and protests to raise the political cost.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The factional battle directly shapes Iran’s stance on nuclear and sanctions negotiations with the US, potentially affecting economic relief, regional proxy dynamics, and the balance of power ahead of eventual leadership succession, as Khamenei’s support appears fluid and contested between hardliners and more pragmatic elements.

Watch For

Public statements from Khamenei clarifying his position on negotiations; further leaked materials targeting key figures; escalation of organised protests by hardliners against negotiators; concrete diplomatic developments in Oman-mediated talks; and any formal political moves against Pezeshkian or Ghalibaf.