As Iran's power struggle deepens, US talks stall, who’s calling the shots in Tehran?
Ultraconservative figures and security officials have intensified their criticism of the negotiating team, accusing it of jeopardizing Iran’s gains.
TEHRAN — Recent discord within Iran’s political establishment points to a widening rift among the country’s top leadership and suggests that reaching an agreement with the United States may become increasingly difficult as internal divisions deepen.
A statement by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on X Friday, confirming Iran’s decision to “fully open” the Strait of Hormuz during the US-Iran ceasefire, triggered sustained backlash within Iran’s political and security systems.
Media outlets affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) quickly criticized the claim. Tasnim described it as “bad and incomplete,” while Fars and others pointed to “misleading ambiguity” over the strait’s reopening. They said that Iranian armed forces would continue to decide which vessels can and cannot transit the international waterway.
The breadth of the response — from conservative lawmakers, state television and pro-regime commentators — highlights a widening divide over control of both the narrative and the broader strategy in the confrontation with the United States.
