Why ceasefire deal with US has unsettled Iran’s hardliners

Why ceasefire deal with US has unsettled Iran’s hardliners

Iran’s recent agreement to a two-week ceasefire with the United States has sparked concern among its most conservative factions. The decision, brokered through Pakistani mediation, marks a departure from the aggressive posture Iran had maintained in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint. Despite this, the deal allows the strait to reopen, a move that contrasts with the defiant message of a massive banner displayed at a high-traffic crossroads in Tehran just days prior. The banner, which declared the strait “will remain closed,” was intended to reflect the stance of the newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not publicly appeared since taking office.

The hardline group, which has long championed Iran’s military actions against US and Israeli forces, now faces internal conflict over the ceasefire. They argue that Iran should have continued its campaign, as it held a strategic advantage. This sentiment was echoed by the Basij volunteer militia, a faction under the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which marched to the foreign ministry overnight to protest the agreement. Members reportedly set fire to US and Israeli flags, symbolizing their frustration with the decision.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), the highest decision-making body under the supreme leader, spearheaded the ceasefire. Moderate President Masoud Pezeshkian leads the council, which framed the agreement as a strategic gain. The two-week pause in hostilities is tied to allowing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, as part of ongoing negotiations with Washington. China is believed to have played a key role in persuading Iran to accept the proposal, despite repeated assurances from Tehran that a permanent end to the conflict was desired.

Direct talks with the US, including a delegation led by Speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, represent a shift from the hardline script. Previously, such engagements were forbidden by the late Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s former Supreme Leader, who was killed in an Israeli strike early in the conflict. The new leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has now sanctioned these discussions, signaling a more flexible approach. However, the ceasefire does not guarantee lasting peace, as tensions could reignite if talks fail.

“Agreeing to the ceasefire was ‘a gift to the enemy,’” wrote the editor of the hardline newspaper Kayhan, criticizing the decision as a concession that allows adversaries to regroup. This sentiment reflects the broader unease within conservative circles, who had previously celebrated Iran’s ability to disrupt Gulf nations through missile and drone attacks.

Reports indicate that the 40-day war has left Iran with significant losses, including over 3,000 fatalities according to human rights activists. US President Donald Trump had threatened even greater devastation, prompting Iran to seek a temporary pause in fighting. While some hardliners remain defiant, others acknowledge the need for a truce to prevent further damage to vital infrastructure. Even before the ceasefire, hardline Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei reiterated Iran’s goal of ending the war while retaining leverage, echoing statements made by the former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a recent article for Foreign Affairs.