Iran’s leadership vacuum leaves two factions battling for control over war’s aim

Iran's leadership is split between ultra-hardliners seeking total victory and pragmatists favoring negotiations, as the country's war with the US continues. The Paydari movement opposes talks, while President Pezeshkian and parliament speaker Ghalibaf see military pressure as leverage for a deal. The new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, remains in hiding, and both sides claim his support. The ceasefire collapsed amid disputes over the Strait of Hormuz and unmet financial promises.

Iran's leadership is publicly split over the war's endgame, with two factions vying for control. The ultra-hardliner Paydari movement, led by Saeed Jalili, opposes any negotiations with the US and pushes for total victory. In contrast, President Masoud Pezeshkian and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who also serves as chief negotiator, see military pressure as a way to force concessions and secure a deal, driven by economic concerns and social pressures. The new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, remains in hiding after being injured in the strike that killed his father, and both sides claim his support. The ceasefire with the US collapsed over disputes regarding the Strait of Hormuz and unmet financial promises, including the release of frozen assets. The Supreme National Security Council had approved the deal 12-1, with Jalili as the lone dissenter. The hardliners have used state television and rallies to oppose negotiations, while the president's camp accuses the broadcaster of dividing the country. The article highlights the internal struggle for Iran's postwar future, with the economy deteriorating and public impatience growing.