Iranian FM pelted with stones at Khamenei’s funeral, claims report:President abused as hardliners accuse govt of bowing to US

A political rift has emerged within Iran following the ceasefire agreement with the United States, with the country’s hardline faction accusing President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf of orchestrating a “soft coup” by compromising Iran’s principles through negotiations with Washington. According to a CNN report, tensions became visible during the funeral of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran last week. Protesters dressed in black reportedly chanted slogans against President Pezeshkian as he walked alongside Khamenei’s coffin, while Foreign Minister Araghchi was allegedly pelted with stones and branded a “traitor” by hardliners, forcing him to leave the area. Hardliners accuse government of yielding to US Hardline groups claim the government abandoned Iran’s revolutionary principles by agreeing to a ceasefire instead of retaliating for Khamenei’s assassination. They allege the agreement was reached against the wishes of Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei. Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly since assuming leadership and has not addressed the nation, despite the government conducting negotiations and state affairs in his name. Hardliners argue that his absence has allowed the current administration to consolidate power and weaken Parliament. Funeral exposed growing divisions While Iranian authorities had appealed for national unity during the conflict with the US, Khamenei’s funeral became a platform for hardliners demanding renewed military action against the United States and rejection of any agreement with the Trump administration. Within days, the fragile ceasefire came under renewed strain after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly targeted ships in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting retaliatory US strikes. President threatened over US deal Even before hostilities resumed, hardline figures intensified attacks on officials supporting diplomacy with Washington. Mohammad Ali Bakhshi, a religious singer associated with the Iranian establishment, publicly threatened President Pezeshkian during an event, warning that failure to uphold the Supreme Leader’s conditions would have severe consequences. The remarks drew criticism within Iran, though no legal action against Bakhshi has been reported. Parliament removes hardline lawmakers The political struggle also played out in Parliament during a special session on July 14, where two prominent hardline lawmakers who opposed the US agreement were removed from key parliamentary posts. Mahmoud Nabavian was removed from the National Security Commission, while its spokesperson, Ibrahim Rezaei, also lost his position. Nabavian had previously participated in negotiations with the US before turning into one of the deal’s strongest critics. He has been accused of leaking a draft of the agreement before it was signed in an attempt to derail the negotiations. Government seeks to curb hardline influence Analysts told CNN that the government appears to be reducing the influence of hardline factions within the political system. Political analyst Hamidreza Azizi said Parliament Speaker Ghalibaf is gradually sidelining radical leaders, arguing that they have become a liability by exposing internal divisions during a period of instability. Although hardliners represent a minority, they retain influence within Parliament, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and state media, including the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB). Hardliners push for confrontation Former national security chief and hardline leader Saeed Jalili, who secured more than 1.3 crore votes in the 2024 presidential election, remains one of the faction’s most influential figures. Former foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki also called for a tougher stance against the US, suggesting in a television interview that Iran should capture American soldiers stationed at military bases in the region. The developments underscore widening divisions within Iran’s leadership. While the government appears focused on securing sanctions relief and preventing further conflict through diplomacy, hardline factions continue to advocate confrontation with the United States and Israel, raising questions over the country’s future domestic and foreign policy direction. ​