Iranian leadership divided as hard-liners sabotage negotiations, Khamenei still unseen - report

Iranian officials reported that hard-liners sabotaged negotiations with the US, exemplified by unauthorized IRGC strikes on commercial ships in July, with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's apparent absence fueling internal divisions. President Pezeshkian and other officials expressed doubt about the veracity of messages attributed to Khamenei, who has not been publicly seen since his March appointment, leading to ongoing governmental conflict.