Internal Iranian Tensions Surface Over Negotiations

Internal Iranian Tensions Surface Over Negotiations

Mahmoud Nabavian, deputy chair of Iran’s national security council, publicly alleged on state broadcaster IRIB that the country’s negotiating team violated mandates set by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei during recent diplomatic talks. The broadcast, which was abruptly terminated, claimed that secret correspondence from the Supreme Leader established 11 strict conditions for engagement, including demands for U.S. compensation and full Iranian sovereignty over the Strait of Hormuz.

The disclosure indicates a significant shift toward a more direct, hands-on management style by the Supreme Leader, who has reportedly been issuing detailed directives via written statements rather than public appearances. Nabavian asserted that the negotiating team failed to secure preconditions—such as the release of frozen assets and the lifting of sanctions—before proceeding to discussions in Geneva. These claims have triggered immediate backlash from the state broadcaster and allies of chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who have called for legal prosecution against Nabavian for the unauthorized release of sensitive information.

The incident highlights a deepening rift within the Iranian political establishment regarding the legitimacy and direction of current nuclear and regional negotiations. As the administration of President Masoud Pezeshkian navigates these internal pressures, the conflict underscores the fragility of the current diplomatic process and the potential for further administrative purges as factions compete for influence over the country’s foreign policy trajectory.