Top figures in Iran’s leadership believe Abbas Araghchi has functioned more as Ahmad Vahidi’s assistant than as a minister carrying out official policy.
As Iran continues to manage tensions with the United States, it may also be facing internal challenges, with reports pointing to a growing rift within its top leadership. An Iran International report on Thursday claimed that President Masoud Pezeshkian and Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf are seeking to remove Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi over his perceived alignment with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The report comes at a time when Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared in public, while US President Donald Trump has also pointed to confusion within Tehran’s leadership.
According to two sources familiar with the matter, Iran’s top leadership believes Abbas Araghchi acted on instructions from Ahmad Vahidi in nuclear talks without notifying the president.
They view Abbas Araghchi as functioning more like Ahmad Vahidi’s subordinate than a cabinet minister carrying out government decisions.
Sources familiar with discussions among Iran’s top leaders told Iran International that over the past two weeks, Abbas Araghchi has acted without informing Masoud Pezeshkian, working closely with Ahmad Vahidi and following his directives.
The sources added that the Iranian president has told close aides he will dismiss Abbas Araghchi if the situation continues.
Are Masoud Pezeshkian and Ahmad Vahidi heading for a clash?
Reports also point to serious disagreements between Masoud Pezeshkian and Ahmad Vahidi. Sources familiar with the matter said the dispute stems from differences over the handling of the war and its damaging impact on people’s livelihoods and the national economy.
Amid the critical war situation, Ahmad Vahidi reportedly declared that all key and sensitive administrative positions would, until further notice, be directly controlled by the Revolutionary Guards, effectively removing Masoud Pezeshkian’s authority to appoint replacements for officials killed in the conflict.
According to sources, Masoud Pezeshkian expressed “frustration” over what he described as a “complete political deadlock.”
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf-headed negotiations
Internal divisions within Iran’s parliament became apparent when a group of hardline lawmakers refused to sign a statement backing the negotiating team.
Despite backing from 261 other MPs, prominent figures aligned with Saeed Jalili withheld their signatures.
Following the dissent, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf stepped down as head of Iran’s negotiating team after being reprimanded for attempting to include nuclear energy in the talks. He had led the Iranian delegation in Islamabad during the first round of negotiations with the United States.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has since taken charge of the negotiations and arrived in Islamabad to present Tehran’s peace proposal.