Escalating Political Tensions in Iran: Khamenei’s Defiance, Pezeshkian’s Defense, and Reformist Pushback

Khamenei has strongly rejected the idea of direct negotiations with the U.S. in his latest speech.

On August 24, 2025, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei delivered a speech at the Imam Khomeini Hosseiniyeh in Tehran during a religious mourning ceremony. He strongly rejected the idea of direct negotiations with the United States, calling such proposals the product of “superficial” thinking. According to Khamenei, U.S. hostility toward Iran is rooted in its desire to “subjugate the Iranian nation,” making reconciliation impossible.

Khamenei praised national unity during the recent 12-day conflict with Israel and warned that Iran’s enemies would attempt to weaken the Islamic Republic by fostering internal division rather than through military force. He urged solidarity between the government and the people, between the armed forces and society, and among all branches of government. In a significant political endorsement, Khamenei expressed firm support for reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian who is facing criticism from conservative hardliners. He called Pezeshkian “hardworking, diligent, and persistent,” urging the public and officials to support his presidency. This backing comes at a time when some lawmakers have called for Pezeshkian’s removal, comparing him to former President Abolhassan Banisadr, who was impeached and dismissed in 1981.

Recently, President Pezeshkian defended his government’s diplomatic efforts with the West, insisting that “negotiation does not mean surrender.” He argued that refusing talks would only lead to repeated conflict, stressing that no decision is made without coordination with the Supreme Leader. However, his remarks triggered sharp backlash in parliament and among conservative factions, leading to accusations of weakness and calls for his political disqualification. This has deepened Iran’s political polarization, with reformist leaders under mounting pressure.

Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei, Iran’s Chief Justice, sharply criticized a recent statement by the Reformist Front that called for a reassessment of foreign policy, dialogue with the United States, and even a reduction in the political role of the military. Ejei condemned the declaration as serving “the enemy’s interests” and urged its signatories to retract it. He also hinted at potential legal action, noting that Tehran’s prosecutor would act in line with the law. This reaction drew mixed responses. Hardline media outlets and clerics praised Ejei’s stance, while reformist leaders such as Azar Mansouri defended the Reformist Front’s statement as the “voice of the voiceless” worried about Iran’s future. Political analyst Ahmad Zeidabadi also criticized Ejei’s rhetoric, arguing it was unworthy of a judiciary chief and could further inflame Iran’s political climate.

In the aftermath of the conflict with Israel, various political and civil society figures proposed reforms and even constitutional changes. Former Prime Minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi, still under house arrest, called for a referendum on constitutional reform. Other dissidents, such as Abolfazl Ghadyani, argued for moving beyond the political legacy of Ayatollah Khomeini, calling his doctrine of Velayat-e Faqih (Guardianship of the Jurist) the root of Iran’s authoritarianism. Sociologist Saeed Madani, who is currently imprisoned, criticized Iran’s uranium enrichment policy, labeling it a “misguided brick” that undermines national development. He argued that enrichment has neither economic justification nor real deterrent value and urged a fundamental policy shift to avoid renewed international confrontation.

Together with 16 other political and civic figures, Ghadyani and Madani signed a joint statement warning that Iran stands “at a crossroads of the most critical moment in its modern history,” demanding urgent reforms to prevent deeper crises. This joint appeal reflected a growing sense among reformist and civil society voices that the Islamic Republic faces not only external pressures but also deep internal fractures.

Iran’s political environment remains deeply polarized following the 12-day conflict with Israel and the U.S. Khamenei’s uncompromising stance against Washington, coupled with his endorsement of Pezeshkian, reflects a strategy of controlled reform under the Supreme Leader’s oversight. Yet, internal rifts are widening: conservatives are pushing back against Pezeshkian’s reformist tendencies, while reformist figures are calling for systemic changes, including referendums and constitutional revisions. At the same time, the judiciary’s harsh reaction to reformist proposals raises concerns about shrinking political space and limits to free expression.

As the deadline set by Britain, France, and Germany for a new nuclear deal approaches, Iran remains in a precarious state of “neither war nor peace” externally, and “neither change nor stability” internally. This climate of suspension risks deepening public frustration, with reformist leaders warning of long-term economic and social damage if fundamental policy changes are not made. For some analysts, this state of suspension has always been a core doctrine of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear policy: standing at the edge of peaceful nuclear technology while retaining the potential for military capability. While it has served as a deterrent in the past, today it increasingly appears unsustainable.

This uncertain environment has sharpened the tone of domestic critics at a critical juncture for Iran. While Khamenei calls for unity and rejects the possibility of reconciliation with the U.S., while at the same time bolstering Pezeshkian against conservative attacks, the internal political debate grows sharper. With nuclear negotiations hanging in the balance and domestic politics more polarized than ever, Iran’s future course remains highly uncertain, caught between demands for reform and the entrenched power of its ruling establishment.