Iranian Parliament Ousts Hardliners Opposing US Nuclear Talks

The divide within Iran's conservative camp is deepening as Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, the Iranian Parliament Speaker and head of the negotiation team with the US, scored a significant political victory. Two of the most vocal critics of the talks with Washington were removed from key positions in the Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee. Ibrahim Rezaei, known for his aggressive stance against Israel and for threatening missile strikes after an Israeli attack in Beirut, was dismissed as the committee's spokesperson. Mahmoud Nabavian lost his role as deputy chairman of the committee. This shift strengthens the position of committee members who support advancing diplomacy and continuing indirect talks with the US.

The move sparked outrage among hardliners, with the Fars news agency, affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, sharply criticizing the dismissals. The Iranian Parliament had not held regular public sessions since the outbreak of the recent war, following orders from the Supreme National Security Council, but resumed normal activity after Ghalibaf was re-elected for a seventh consecutive term as Speaker. Ghalibaf revealed he himself faced severe attacks from extremist factions attempting to undermine him politically due to his support for leading the negotiations alongside Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Overall, this development signals Tehran's regime intent to create diplomatic maneuvering space for Ghalibaf and his negotiation team by sidelining the most extreme elements seeking to sabotage talks with the West.