Iran's Assembly of Experts Faces Rare Public Rift Over Nuclear Negotiations and Leadership

A rare and public crisis has erupted within Iran's Assembly of Experts, the body responsible for appointing the Supreme Leader, revealing deep internal divisions over the ongoing nuclear negotiations and the regime's strategic direction. On June 29, 2026, more than 60 of the 84 members issued an unprecedented statement supporting the Iranian negotiating team but warned against repeating past failures. They emphasized adherence to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's red lines, declaring it a religious duty not to deviate from them. The statement also condemned reopening the Strait of Hormuz amid Israeli activities in Lebanon as a "strategic mistake" and insisted that Iran's nuclear rights must remain off the negotiating table.

One of the statement's most severe points called for the elimination of those responsible for the assassination of Ali Khamenei, naming U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and urged anyone with access to them to kill them as a religious obligation. However, within hours, the Assembly's presidency and secretariat issued a rare retraction, criticizing the signatories for bypassing official procedures and reaffirming loyalty to Mojtaba Khamenei's directives. They stated that official positions must be released only through formal channels and called for broader discussion to maintain unity.

This retraction sparked further controversy, with ultra-conservative factions attacking the Assembly's leadership for undermining its unity and questioning why a large majority felt compelled to circumvent the leadership. The initial statement was embraced by hardliners opposing negotiations with Washington, while the retraction was seen as an attempt to de-escalate tensions.

Amid the turmoil, Iranian President Masoud Pezhkian visited the religious city of Qom, signaling efforts by the government to shore up support from senior clerics during this politically sensitive period. The public dispute within a body traditionally associated with unity and silence highlights escalating power struggles at the highest levels of the Islamic Republic concerning relations with the U.S., the nuclear talks, and the authority to define the Supreme Leader's red lines. Recent weeks have seen voices within Iran accusing the negotiating team of exceeding its mandate and ignoring Khamenei's instructions.