Middle East Eye
centerREPORTIran's new Security Council shake-up reveals growing divisions over US deal

Full BriefGenerated 40d ago
What Happened
In late June, the Iranian Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) endorsed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the United States aimed at de-escalating hostilities. The endorsement, led by then-SNSC secretary Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, faced immediate backlash from ultraconservative factions. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei subsequently issued a statement expressing opposition to the agreement, effectively distancing himself from the negotiators. Following this, Zolghadr resigned in protest, a move accepted by Khamenei. President Masoud Pezeshkian, who supported the deal, unsuccessfully attempted to retain Zolghadr, but was ultimately compelled to appoint former IRGC commander Mohsen Rezaei as the new SNSC secretary.
Key Actors
- ·Mojtaba Khamenei(Supreme Leader of Iran)Publicly opposed the US-Iran agreement and accepted the resignation of the pro-deal SNSC secretary.
- ·Masoud Pezeshkian(President of Iran)Supported the MoU with the United States and attempted to keep Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr in his position.
- ·Mohsen Rezaei(Former IRGC commander and new SNSC secretary)Appointed by the Supreme Leader to the SNSC, representing a shift toward a more hardline stance on negotiations.
- ·Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr(Former SNSC secretary)Resigned from his post after his endorsement of the US-Iran deal was undermined by the Supreme Leader.
Why It Matters
The internal power struggle over the US-Iran agreement highlights deep fractures within the Iranian political establishment regarding foreign policy and engagement with Washington. The replacement of a moderate-leaning official with a veteran IRGC commander like Mohsen Rezaei suggests a potential hardening of Iran's negotiating position and a consolidation of influence by factions skeptical of diplomatic concessions.
Watch For
Monitor future SNSC policy directives and any public statements from Mohsen Rezaei regarding the status of the June MoU. Further developments will likely center on whether the Iranian government continues to pursue the terms of the agreement or if the new security leadership shifts toward a more confrontational posture in response to the Supreme Leader's stated opposition.
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This page aggregates and summarizes reporting from Middle East Eye. The Conflict Pulse does not author original reporting. Read the original source for full coverage.
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