Iran Paydari Front Pushes Nuclear Treaty Withdrawal and Foreign Minister Impeachment

Eight Months of War and Domestic Rivalry

The war between Iran and the US-Israeli coalition began on February 28, justified by Washington on the pretext that Tehran was attempting to develop nuclear weapons. Since then, the Strait of Hormuz has been largely closed to shipping, with missile and air strikes causing extensive damage to Iranian and Arab infrastructure and major disruptions to global energy supplies.

The hardline bloc holds considerable institutional power beyond street activism, maintaining a strong presence in Tehran's municipal government, parliament, religious institutions, academia and the media. Their slogans include "No compromise, no surrender" and "Negotiating with the enemy is a betrayal of the homeland."

Divergent Views on Diplomacy

Amirhossein Sabeti, a member of parliament aligned with the Paydari Front, stated that negotiations with the US will not begin unless Washington ends its siege on Iran's southern ports or lifts sanctions. "The enemy's objective of destroying Iran has not changed. It is simply waiting for the right moment to launch another surprise attack," Sabeti said. "The only language the world understands is the language of power."

Conversely, Davood Heshmati, a journalist considered close to President Pezeshkian, argued that US forces have abandoned the ambition of overthrowing the Iranian government in favour of more modest aims, making a diplomatic solution more likely. "Negotiations and a diplomatic agreement are among those alternatives, and they should always take precedence over war," Heshmati said.

Political analyst Negar Mortazavi noted that while hardliners are "well-organised and deeply entrenched," decisions on war, peace and negotiations rest with Supreme Leader Mujtaba Khamenei and the Supreme National Security Council. She observed that hardliners could not stop the JCPOA nuclear agreement under former US President Barack Obama, nor the more recent memorandum of understanding with former President Donald Trump.

What Lies Ahead

The impeachment hearing against Foreign Minister Araghchi has not yet been scheduled, and diplomatic engagement with mediators to end the war continues. Street rallies and television programmes opposing a peaceful resolution are expected to persist, but the delay in the impeachment process, combined with ongoing diplomacy, suggests the moderate camp remains a significant force in Iran's political landscape.