Although Iran appears to the outside world to be at war with the United States and Israel, the situation inside the country is far from stable. What US President Donald Trump had hoped for in terms of change within Iran now appears to be slowly unfolding — signs of a “takeover” (regime change) are emerging within the country. A fierce internal power struggle is underway among Iran’s ruling circles. Iran’s hardline conservatives are openly accusing President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf of conspiring to carry out a “soft coup” — seizing power without military backing.
According to a report by the international media outlet CNN, during last week’s funeral of Iran’s former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, intense public anger and opposition toward the country’s political leaders was openly on display among the mourners.
A section of the crowd that had gathered for the funeral procession, upon seeing President Masoud Pezeshkian, set aside their tributes to the late leader and turned toward the president, loudly chanting “death to the traitor who makes deals.” At the same time, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi — who played a key role in the ceasefire and sanctions-relief talks with the United States — faced severe backlash. Protesters hurled stones at him and branded him “a traitor who sold out the country,” forcing him to leave the scene for safety reasons.
Last month, a key memorandum of understanding (MoU) was reached between the United States and Iran. President Masoud Pezeshkian signed the agreement on Iran’s behalf. This development is precisely what sparked intense outrage among Iran’s hardliners. They allege that by striking this deal with the US, Iran’s political leadership has trampled on the country’s revolutionary principles. They are furious, claiming that the government is weakening the role of parliament, defying the new Supreme Leader’s directives, and attempting to shut down the night-time rallies considered a stronghold of hardliner support.
Reacting to this on social media, hardline MP Mahmoud Nabavian asked, “People of Iran, be careful — is a coup about to happen in the country?” In a subsequent post, he warned, “We are carrying the flag to avenge our leader’s blood, and we will stand firmly against these coup attempts.”
Where Is the New Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei?
The most secretive and troubling aspect of this entire controversy is the prolonged public absence of the new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. According to the CNN report, he has not appeared publicly for a long time. Not only has he failed to address the nation, there is also no evidence that he has directly taken up his official duties. This has fueled a range of speculation within Iran — some claim he has been kept in a secret location for security reasons, while others argue that his health does not allow him to play an active role. However, there is no official clarity on these reports.
Open Death Threats Against the President
The protests against the agreement with the US have not been limited to chants alone. Mohammad Ali Bakhshi, a religious singer supportive of the Iranian government, made an open and chilling warning to President Pezeshkian during a religious event. “If you do not fulfill the conditions set by the Supreme Leader, the sword will be in our hands, and it will be your throat that faces it. We will create hell for you,” he said. Despite widespread criticism of these remarks, it is notable that no legal action has been taken against him.