Hardliners Storm the Streets
Hours before the expected signing of a US–Iran peace accord, hardliners from the Paydari (Endurance) Front took to the streets of Tehran and Mashhad on Saturday night, chanting for the heads of Iran’s own negotiators. “Araghchi, be ashamed and leave the country,” demonstrators shouted in Tehran’s central Enghelab Square, directing their rage at Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, according to Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.
The protests are the loudest public push yet by a fringe faction that views itself as the guardian of the 1979 revolution. Their target: a five-point memorandum of understanding that would end the three-month war, open the Strait of Hormuz, and dismantle Iran’s nuclear fuel stockpile in exchange for phased sanctions relief and the eventual release of billions of dollars in frozen assets.
If Iran signs the agreement we will effectively become a colony of the United States.Mahmoud Nabavian, Hardline MP (Paydari Front)
Mahmoud Nabavian, a prominent Paydari MP, told state media that even the smallest amount of uranium enrichment would require US permission under the deal – including for medical and energy purposes. “If we want to carry out even the smallest amount of uranium enrichment, we would first have to obtain permission from the United States,” he said, CNN reported.
Trump’s Birthday Deadline
President Donald Trump has insisted the memorandum will be signed Sunday, June 14 – his 80th birthday – but Tehran has publicly cast doubt on that timeline. An Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman told state media the signing “will not happen on Sunday,” Haaretz reported.
The terms that Iran leaked out to the fake news have nothing to do with the terms that were agreed to, in writing. What they said, including their weak and pathetic statement on having a deal, bears no relation to the truth.Donald Trump, US-PräsidentMore quotes from Donald Trump →
Trump on Friday dismissed an Iranian version of the text that suggested Washington had made major concessions, warning Tehran to “get their act together, and fast.” A White House official briefed that all nuclear material would be destroyed or removed, the Strait of Hormuz reopened, and Iran barred from funding terrorist groups – with sanctions relief only kicking in after Iran meets performance metrics, TIME reported.
A Regime at War With Itself
The protests are more than noise. The Institute for the Study of War identified “persistent internal disagreements” among regime leaders over concessions, with IRGC commander Major General Ahmad Vahidi pushing for maximalist demands that would amount to a US surrender. Meanwhile, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei urged state media to stop “focusing on weaknesses” – but hardline outlets and street protesters are ignoring him.
From a Western or an American point of view, this pressure that’s been exerted on the regime should have resulted in its collapse already. But that’s not how this system works.Charles W. Dunne, Non-Resident Fellow, Arab Center
In an interview with Iran International, former US diplomat Charles W. Dunne warned that Trump may be underestimating the Islamic Republic’s ability to absorb sanctions, military strikes, and internal dissent. “Those now in charge,” he said, “seem to be even more hardline and determined to prevail.”
What the Deal Would Actually Do
- Destroy or remove all enriched uranium from Iranian soil within 60 days.
- Reopen the Strait of Hormuz unconditionally, though Iran wants to keep charging transit tolls.
- Phase out nuclear-related sanctions only after verified compliance.
- Release billions in frozen Iranian assets in tranches tied to performance benchmarks.
- Ban Iranian funding for terrorist groups and require verification.
The gap between what Washington says it agreed to and what Tehran claims it obtained remains vast. Vice President J.D. Vance stated the deal is structured to ensure US and allied concerns are prioritized, with economic benefits flowing only if the Islamic Republic meets its obligations. Hardliners inside Iran see that structure as a trap – and they are betting they can kill the deal before it ever takes effect.
