Calls grow in Tehran to defuse rifts as war and unrest loom

While the latest exchange of threats between US President Donald Trump and Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei once again cast a shadow of war over Iran, their harsh words also appear to have stirred tensions in Iran’s domestic politics.

Pundits across Iran's political spectrum have been warning "radicals"—a label often aimed at members of the ultraconservative Paydari Party, particularly in parliament—to step back from the political spotlight and avoid fueling sociopolitical tensions at a time when Iranian society is easily agitated.

Former Deputy Intelligence Minister and government spokesman Ali Rabiei, a figure in Iran’s Reformist camp, urged radicals to scale back their political ambitions under the current circumstances. He advised them to abandon hopes of winning the next presidential or parliamentary elections and cautioned against assuming it is “their turn” to take power in Iran.

Meanwhile, conservative commentator Nasser Imani warned that hardline radicals may be seeking to disrupt the country’s security, stressing that the fallout from their actions would affect all Iranians. He urged other members of parliament not to let the radicals take the lead on pushing controversial issues in the Majles.

Imani said the radicals aim to destabilize the balance among the government’s three branches, as ultraconservatives often thrive in times of instability. He noted that although they hold only one-sixth of the seats in parliament, they are disproportionately loud, disregard boundaries, and continue to exploit public sensitivities on issues like the hijab.

Some conservatives, including Expediency Council member Mohammad Javad Bahonar, have emphasized that ultraconservative figure Saeed Jalili and his so-called “shadow government” are actively working to unseat the Pezeshkian administration. Bahonar accused the ultraconservatives of spreading resignation rumors about Pezeshkian at least three times in the past six months.

Bahonar further warned that radicals from both the conservative and reformist camps are attacking the Pezeshkian administration, frustrated by the lack of representation for their allies in the government. He also accused even moderate figures on both sides of engaging in what he called hostile criticism of the administration.

At the same time, reports of divisions within the ultraconservative camp have been circulating widely in the press and online platforms.

On Monday, some online accounts spread unverified claims that over 30 ultraconservative MPs had resigned in protest after a police crackdown on vigilantes opposing the government’s halt to enforcing a hardline hijab law passed by the Majles last year. There was no confirmation of the reports at the time.

Former ultraconservative MP Hossein Naqavi told the press that some members of the Paydari Party are distancing themselves from the radicals. “True revolutionaries do not accept radicalism,” he said, predicting that the rift between Paydari figures and hardline elements is likely to widen further in the near future.

Even Khamenei, in his Eid al-Fitr sermon on Monday, expressed deep concern about potential “seditions” from radicals on both sides and vowed to crush them. He was clearly alluding to the protest movements launched by Reformists in 2009 (the Green Movement) and the 2022 Woman, Life, Freedom movement, as well as the 2017–2018 unrest in Mashhad, which was initially stirred by ultraconservatives.

Khamenei’s warning about possible unrest followed calls by some opposition groups abroad urging Iranians to use the April 2 national picnic day as an opportunity to demonstrate their unity and strength against the Islamic Republic.

Naqavi Hosseini described Iran as being in a “special situation,” facing pressure from what he called its staunch enemies in the United States. He acknowledged the difficulty of governing during a severe economic crisis, saying: “Under the circumstances, wisdom, religion, and prudence call for national unity until all problems are resolved.” He cautioned against escalating tensions.

Referring to Mahmoud Nabavian—a prominent Paydari figure who has recently softened his hardline positions and adopted more moderate views—Naqavi Hosseini said others in the party should follow his example if they wish to avoid further tensions.

He emphasized that “the most important priority right now is ensuring the survival of the regime.”