Divisions Strike the Iranian Regime and Shake Its Foundations
Disputes and divisions within the Iranian regime are widening, shaking its foundations, as they have spilled out of closed rooms into the public sphere, manifesting in reciprocal statements and contradictory positions among branches of power. These rifts are clearly reflected in how Tehran manages its political and military files, amid escalating economic and living pressures and the conspicuous absence of Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
The most prominent disagreements revolve around factions and figures aligned with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its commander, Ahmad Vahidi, on one side, and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on the other. The conflict centers on whether to prioritize escalation and confrontation or to give diplomacy and negotiations greater opportunity.
Conservative loyalists in Iran continue their attacks on the negotiation team, accusing proponents of dialogue of making concessions at a stage that, in their view, demands more hardline stances. In response, Pezeshkian has chosen to counter his critics through the lens of internal divisions, warning against prioritizing personal interests and calculations over the country’s welfare, and affirming that “all divisions in Iran stem from selfishness and self-love.”
The Iranian president has called on officials to act fairly and move away from slogans, criticizing groups he claims attack his government’s measures while remaining insensitive to the hardship and suffering that current conditions impose on Iranians. Pezeshkian went further, stressing that slogans must be accompanied by a readiness to bear their costs and consequences, a message reflecting the intensity of debate within power structures over decisions that could further pressure the country and its citizens.
In a move reflecting internal concern, Qalibaf warned that military force alone would not be sufficient to protect the regime if living conditions collapse, emphasizing that no matter how strong Iran’s military might be, it would not be able to endure if the people go hungry. The parliament speaker stressed that security and the economy are two inseparable wings: there can be no investment without security, and security cannot be sustainable without a strong economy capable of supporting it.
Iran is enduring poor living conditions, with the US naval blockade exacerbating an economic deterioration that was already suffering from the repercussions of harsh US sanctions.
