Hardliners and moderates: What do Iran’s factions think of deal with US?
Factional divisions in Iran remain as leaders debate the implementation of deal with the US, amid fears of capitulation. Tehran, Iran – The road leading
Factional divisions in Iran remain as leaders debate the implementation of deal with the US, amid fears of capitulation. Tehran, Iran – The road leading to the signing the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran has been difficult. And the announcement on Sunday that a deal had been reached does not mean that everything will be straightforward from now on, even after the planned signing of the deal on Friday in Switzerland. Factional differences remain in Iran, and they are likely to emerge during the implementation phase over the coming months. Here’s a look at who stands where in Iran’s political leadership and what they believe needs to happen so that Iran can avoid “capitulation” against the US and Israel. Mojtaba Khamenei The new supreme leader replaced his powerful slain father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, despite reportedly being wounded in the same air strike on February 28. But has not been seen or heard from publicly except for written statements attributed to him, and has not adopted a public position on the deal. In the statements, Khamenei has predominantly focused on maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz, and guarding Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes as “national assets” that should not be surrendered. This has prompted speculation and interpretations from different stakeholders. The ultraconservative Keyhan newspaper, whose editor-in-chief was selected by the senior Khamenei decades ago, said the incumbent supreme leader has deliberately not referenced the nuclear programme since coming to power. This, the newspaper wrote in an editorial on Tuesday, could signal that the Iran believes the nuclear file to have “concluded” with no efforts necessary to reopen it – even though the US and Israel attacked Iran with a main stated goal of curtailing Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. “We are at a critical juncture in the history of the West Asia region, so there is no room for weakness or error, and no one has the right to undermine or, God forbid, surpass the red lines of the supreme leader,” Keyhan wrote.
IRGC, security apparatus Many senior officials in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the security and intelligence apparatus were killed during the war. But those that remain are believed to be playing a key role in shaping how negotiations proceed with Washington. Generals such as IRGC chief Ahmad Vahidi and leaders at the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of the armed forces and affiliated bodies have repeatedly stated readiness to resume military operations if necessary, but have refrained from commenting on the provisions of the deal. After spending decades and untold billions expanding the “axis of resistance” of allied armed forces across the region to rival the US and Israel, these officials have emphasised that Tehran will not abandon its allies, especially Hezbollah in Lebanon, and that they need to be included in any deal to protect them from Israel. Esmail Qaani, the commander of the Quds Force that oversees the axis, on Monday night made his first public appearance in months to discuss the deal. “Bab al-Mandeb Strait is fully in the hands of the guys in Hezbollah, the Ansarallah [Houthis] in Yemen, and even some of the comrades and children of resistance who are not Yemeni,” Qaani told state television during a studio interview, in reference to the strategic waterway that connects the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, which Iran has threatened to close if the war continues. Qaani also made another significant point, explicitly backing Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and other figures leading the negotiating team with the US, after they came under fire from hardliners for agreeing to the deal. Ghalibaf, the incumbent parliament speaker, used to be a senior IRGC commander who later entered politics. He is believed to be among the more pragmatic conservative figures within the establishment, who have backed a deal.
The BriefWire