NYT: Hard-liners in Tehran push back against Iran-US negotiations

As Iran and the United States edged closer to a potential agreement to end hostilities, internal divisions in Tehran have intensified, with a vocal hard-line faction working to block any compromise with Washington, the recent article by The New York Times points out.

The prospects for a deal remain uncertain. President Donald Trump met with senior officials in the White House Situation Room for two hours but delayed a final decision, according to a senior administration official. Iran’s lead negotiator, Gen. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, signalled continued mistrust, stating that Tehran would take no steps “before the other side acts first.”

Inside Iran, political tensions have become increasingly visible. State television has amplified opposition voices and portrayed the negotiations as unsuccessful, prompting President Masoud Pezeshkian to rebuke its leadership for fueling divisions. He stressed that even the country’s former supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had supported engaging in talks, adding: “But now, we are advertising that we should not negotiate.”

Hard-line groups have mobilised publicly. At a rally in Tehran, supporters called for defiance, with one attendee declaring, “We want them to punish them good,” while another said, “Stand firm, we are with you until our last drop of blood.” Conservative lawmaker Ebrahim Azizi asserted that “Iran, as the victor and conqueror of the field, sets the terms.”

Despite their visibility, analysts say hard-liners represent a minority view but remain influential enough to pose risks. “The nuclear talks are proceeding despite their disapproval,” said political analyst Mehdi Rahmati, warning that failing to contain them could threaten internal stability.

The faction has also targeted the political leadership. A controversial remark by cleric Hamid Rasaee appeared to question the legitimacy of the new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, triggering backlash and a subsequent retraction.

Behind the scenes, divisions have extended into top institutions. A senior official opposed to the talks urged stricter limits on negotiators and refused to endorse a letter warning of economic crisis and potential unrest without an agreement. The letter underscored mounting financial pressure on the government.

Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has publicly backed the negotiating team, calling on lawmakers to avoid “nonsense political divisions” that could weaken the country at a critical moment.

By Tamilla Hasanova