VIENNA — Two months after the landmark nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, the elegant Palais Coburg appears as just another of many monuments in the Austrian capital. The making of history is over, and it is back to business as usual. In Iran, the same applies to the deal itself. Celebration has ended, and the prevailing sense of national achievement has largely evaporated in the shadow of intense domestic political infighting.

These days, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his team of negotiators are busy defending the Iranian government’s decision to go through with the deal. Pressure from the Parliament is mounting, driven by some political factions that are seizing the moment to shore up their positions ahead of the forthcoming February parliamentary elections. “This is just another attempt to sabotage this achievement [the deal],” an Iranian MP who’s in favor of the nuclear agreement told Al-Monitor. The lawmaker, who spoke on condition of anonymity, added, “The first days [after the deal], they were lost; they knew not what to do. Then, they started lobbying against the deal behind closed doors, and finally, when they felt that they had affected the negotiating team’s credibility, they are now openly active. But they don’t understand that this is all behind us now.”

The fact is that some in Iran believe in the old saying, “Use your enemy’s hands to kill a snake.” This is one of the reasons why some of those opposing the deal decided to wait and see whether Congress would scuttle it before raising their voices, as they thought US lawmakers may succeed in their endeavor. “We are aware of attempts by some in this government to handcuff our leadership,” an Iranian conservative cleric told Al-Monitor in Beirut a few days ago. “They want to put the leadership in front of two bitter choices: either accept the deal as it is or accept people’s accusations that you sabotaged the deal.”

On Sept. 3, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made it clear that he wants the Parliament to vote on the deal. He stated, “Parliament should not be sidelined on the nuclear deal issue.” However, he underscored that “I am not saying that lawmakers should ratify or reject the deal. It is up to them to decide." Khamenei, who has final say on major national issues, further added, “I have told the president that it is not in our interest to not let our lawmakers review the deal.”