World📡 New York TimesBy Farnaz FassihiJul 8, 2026👁 3 views

Divisions Festered Within Iran Over Talks With the U.S.

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Divisions Festered Within Iran Over Talks With the U.S.

Iran’s president and foreign minister were physically attacked this week by supporters of a hard-line faction that vehemently opposes any deal with the United States.

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Mourners gathered in Tehran, Iran, to pay their respect to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for his funeral on Saturday.Credit...Emile Ducke for The New York Times

Farnaz Fassihi has covered Iran for three decades, and was a war correspondent based in the Middle East for 15 years.

July 8, 2026

Even before the United States launched new strikes Wednesday on Iran and President Trump cast doubt on the countries’ cease-fire, divisions over the agreement were already emerging within Iran’s leadership.

The developments of the past day have deepened those fractures, pitting one faction of Iranian officials who favor negotiation with Washington against hard-liners who vehemently oppose making a deal with the United States.

The faction that favors talks has at the same time accused the United States of violating the terms of the truce agreement. These officials include President Masoud Pezeshkian, who on Wednesday said Washington was “bullying rivals, creating obstacles and cheating.”

The rival group, drawn from a minority of hard-liners, has directed its anger at the Iranian president and negotiating team.

The rising tensions inside and outside of Iran have unfolded against the backdrop of Iran’s weeklong funeral for its slain supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with ceremonies taking place in five cities in Iran and Iraq. Mr. Khamenei’s body had reached Najaf, Iraq, when the American airstrikes began and was scheduled to return to Iran for burial in Mashhad on Thursday.

All week, as the funeral has progressed, the hard-line faction in Iran has targeted government officials.

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