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In a dramatic escalation of Iran’s internal power struggles, Tehran’s Prosecutor’s Office has announced criminal charges against Mohammad Sadr, a senior member of the Expediency Council and former deputy foreign minister, after he made controversial remarks that authorities say cross “red lines” and damage the regime’s image at a critical moment.
Sadr, a veteran diplomat and influential figure appointed to the Expediency Council by the regime’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, came under fire after a recent interview where he made a series of explosive statements. He suggested that Israel’s precision strikes on Iran’s air defenses during the recent 12-day conflict indicate the possibility of intelligence leaks by Russia, raised doubts about the official narrative surrounding former president Ebrahim Raisi’s helicopter crash, and warned that Iran risks triggering the snapback of UN sanctions if it refuses to engage in negotiations with the West. He warned such a scenario would turn Iran into a “plague state” isolated from the international community.
The remarks immediately provoked backlash across regime institutions and state-controlled media. Tehran’s Prosecutor’s Office confirmed that a judicial case has been opened, accusing Sadr of spreading “false and baseless claims.” The newspaper Kayhan accused him of damaging “national security” and undermining the regime’s position at a time when, in its words, Iran’s enemies are “seeking to exploit internal discord.” Another pro-Khamenei outlet, Farhikhtegan, charged that Sadr’s statements “fuel division within the system” and warned that allowing such dissent risks destabilizing decision-making at the highest levels.
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The fallout extended to the interview itself: Mohammad-Hossein Ranjbaran, the adviser to senior nuclear negotiator Abbas Araghchi who hosted the program, was dismissed from his role within hours of the judiciary’s announcement. While state-controlled media described the departure as a resignation “to avoid further controversy,” insiders say the move reflects rising intolerance for any platform perceived as enabling unauthorized narratives.
Days before, the regime’s General Staff of Armed Forces had issued a pointed warning against what it called “multi-voiced narratives,” declaring that any remarks which create divisions or “weaken national unity” serve the agendas of “Zionists and America.” The statement underscored growing fears inside the leadership that public airing of internal disagreements is amplifying perceptions of regime weakness at home and abroad.
The controversy over Sadr’s remarks comes amid widening factional tensions inside the regime. Masoud Pezeshkian’s government faced increasing attacks from rival power centers seeking to consolidate control.
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At the heart of the backlash is concern that Sadr’s statements expose vulnerabilities the regime has tried to conceal, from military setbacks to deepening international isolation. By openly raising sensitive issues — including Iran’s strained defenses, Raisi’s death, and the potential return of sweeping UN sanctions — Sadr directly challenged the leadership’s efforts to project strength, cohesion, and stability.
The prosecution of Mohammad Sadr marks one of the clearest signs yet that Iran’s leadership views internal dissent as an existential threat. By targeting a senior Expediency Council member, the regime aims to send an unmistakable message: even the most established figures are not immune when their words are seen as weakening morale, revealing vulnerabilities, or challenging the façade of unity.