Iran’s ultra-hardliners lash out at negotiators over US talks

{"text":[[{"start":8.75,"text":"Iran’s ultra-hardliners have hit out at the country’s negotiators over a potential deal with the US, exposing divisions among lawmakers over how far Tehran should compromise with Washington in order to end the months-long conflict."}],[{"start":22.95,"text":"Influential members of the ultra-conservative Paydari faction, who occupy seats in parliament and prominent positions at state broadcasters, have insisted Iran retain control over the Strait of Hormuz and refuse to make concessions over its nuclear programme, describing these as “red lines”."}],[{"start":40.15,"text":"They have criticised parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a longtime political rival who has been leading the negotiations, claiming that he has acted beyond the mandate given by new supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei."}],[{"start":54.849999999999994,"text":"Mahmoud Nabavian, a prominent hardline parliamentarian aligned with Paydari, this week urged Ghalibaf and top security official Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr to insist on maximalist terms for ending the conflict, saying the war had turned Iran into a “superpower”."}],[{"start":72.8,"text":"The criticism comes as mediators wait for Iran’s response to a draft proposal that would extend the US-Iran ceasefire by 60 days, lead to the gradual reopening of the strait and lay the framework for discussions over the republic’s nuclear programme."}],[{"start":88.2,"text":"Nabavian argued that the strait, through which about a fifth of global oil and gas supplies pass, should be fully reopened only if “all” US sanctions were lifted with congressional approval and accompanied by guarantees against future sanctions."}],[{"start":102.65,"text":"He also outlined what he claimed were Khamenei’s conditions for a deal, including that Iran retain “exclusive management” of the strait, impose tolls on shipping, ban Israeli-linked vessels and receive compensation payments from the US for wartime damage."}],[{"start":118.05000000000001,"text":"Anything short of that, he said, would mean “Iran will be a total loser and the US a total winner”."}],[{"start":null,"text":"

"}],[{"start":124.15,"text":"The view was echoed by Mohsen Mansouri, another ultra-hardliner. He claimed the pragmatists leading the negotiations “are struggling for an already failed agreement with the killers of our supreme leader”, referring to the assassination of Mojtaba’s father Ali Khamenei at the start of the war on February 28."}],[{"start":143.65,"text":"Mansouri said claims that negotiators were coordinating with Mojtaba, or that they were acting on a collective decision made by top figures, “would not work any more”, suggesting they were false."}],[{"start":155.85,"text":"The interventions highlighted the Paydari faction’s attempts to insert itself into the negotiations, and underscored the challenge facing Iran’s leadership as it attempts to balance public exhaustion from months of war with pressure from hardline ideologues."}],[{"start":170.6,"text":"More moderate and pragmatic politicians, however, argue that the ultra-hardliners’ political influence is weakening as the public — and much of the political establishment — tire of their insistence on further escalation with the US and Israel and their calls for more political and social restrictions."}],[{"start":187.85,"text":"This includes advocating for the continuation of a multi-month global internet blackout, which Iran began easing this week against opposition from ultra-hardliners."}],[{"start":197.65,"text":"Paydari suffered a political blow on Monday when Ghalibaf, a conservative who is seen as a pragmatist and considered close to Khamenei, secured 235 votes to extend his tenure as parliamentary speaker for another year. His challenger, who was backed by Paydari, won only 29 votes."}],[{"start":215.65,"text":"“The Paydari members have become like a patient who cannot be cured any more,” said a regime insider. “They are partly responsible for making people disillusioned with their policies. The country cannot afford them any more.”"}],[{"start":null,"text":""}],[{"start":228.4,"text":"Still, analysts say the ultra-hardliners retain enough influence to complicate negotiations, delay decisions and raise expectations among supporters of the Islamic republic. "}],[{"start":239.8,"text":"President Masoud Pezeshkian, a reformist, on Tuesday urged Iranians to eschew a confrontational approach in favour of “solidarity and reconstruction”. He said on Wednesday that the economy was “the main battlefield”."}],[{"start":253.4,"text":"Ghalibaf and foreign minister Abbas Araghchi returned to Tehran from Doha late on Tuesday after two days of talks with Qatari mediators. Iran’s negotiators said they were focused on securing an initial framework to suspend hostilities and ease traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. "}],[{"start":270,"text":"Early reports suggest Tehran could agree to reopen the strait for an initial 60-day period in exchange for the lifting of a US blockade on Iranian shipping."}],[{"start":280,"text":"Diplomats familiar with the discussions said such a move could be accompanied by the partial release of frozen Iranian assets before broader negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme begin."}],[{"start":291.4,"text":"Iran this week accused the US of “flagrant” violations of the ceasefire after American forces carried out air strikes against Iranian missile launchers and boats on Monday."}],[{"start":302.4,"text":"US President Donald Trump had previously claimed that Tehran’s leadership was in disarray after the war, saying last month that Iranians “have no idea who their leader is”."}],[{"start":313.7,"text":"But despite public clashes with hardliners, analysts believe the negotiations have taken place under Khamenei’s oversight."}],[{"start":321.34999999999997,"text":"Though the supreme leader has not appeared publicly since the start of the war — reportedly injured in the attack that killed his father — the Revolutionary Guards, security officials and political leaders such as Ghalibaf are believed to be coordinating with him."}],[{"start":336.34999999999997,"text":"“Hardliners were always against Ghalibaf and vice versa. This is nothing new and will continue,” the insider said. “But the difference now is that the political establishment is no longer planning to protect them should they continue to obstruct every policy.”"}],[{"start":351.34999999999997,"text":"In a rare public intervention this week, Zolghadr, who was appointed secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, called for national unity, describing political cohesion as an essential component of Iran’s defence against the US and Israel."}],[{"start":367.15,"text":"“More than ever before, the country needs unity to disappoint Americans and Zionists,” he said, adding that this could achieve Iran a “final victory”."}],[{"start":384.05,"text":""}]],"url":"https://audio.ftcn.net.cn/album/a_1779937434_3648.mp3"}