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As Iran’s clerical regime grapples with escalating domestic and international pressures, factional infighting within the regime has intensified following comments made by Mohammad Javad Zarif, the clerical regime’s Vice President, at the World Economic Forum in Davos. While Zarif sought to present a façade of readiness for negotiations with the Trump administration, his remarks have drawn fierce criticism from state officials, further exposing the regime’s deep internal divisions and fragility.
Four days after Zarif’s statements in Davos, the backlash within the regime has grown. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf cautioned against statements that might “cause miscalculations” by U.S. President Donald Trump. Referring to Zarif’s remarks without naming him directly, Ghalibaf stated, “Officials who represent the system must be cautious in their comments so that the message sent to the enemy does not endanger national interests.” He added that discussing internal disagreements in international forums “weakens the unity of the Iranian people against foreign enemies.”
Ghalibaf argued that rhetoric like Zarif’s not only failed to yield positive results during Trump’s first term but also contributed to significant setbacks. “Such positions not only achieved no breakthrough but led to the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA and the assassination of Qassem Soleimani,” he asserted.
Zarif had argued in Davos that Trump’s new administration no longer included those responsible for the U.S. withdrawal from the JCPOA and expressed hope that this administration would act “more reasonably” toward Iran. Zarif also claimed that had Saeed Jalili been elected president, a “major war” in the region might have erupted.
#Khamenei Sends Zarif to #Davos in Desperate Attempt to Deflect Global Pressurehttps://t.co/OfLG3FKqPh
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) January 23, 2025
However, Zarif’s remarks prompted fierce criticism from MPs and clerics aligned with the regime’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Abdolhossein Ruholamini, a member of the regime’s parliament, accused Zarif of emboldening foreign adversaries through his repeated calls for direct negotiations with the U.S. “His rhetoric only emboldens the opposition and strengthens their arrogance,” Ruholamini said, adding that such statements have led to further “humiliation for Iran on the international stage.”
Another MP, Hamid Rasaee, went further, calling Zarif’s appointment “illegal” and demanding that Parliament and the judiciary take action. Rasaee claimed Zarif’s presence in Davos undermined Iran’s leadership and called his remarks “a betrayal of the nation and an attack on national unity.”
The tensions escalated with public demonstrations by regime loyalists, including a gathering called the “Coffin-Bearers’ Protest,” during which MP Kamran Ghazanfari accused Zarif of being a stooge for foreign powers, alleging that Zarif had enjoyed covert support from the Shah’s SAVAK intelligence agency prior to the 1979 revolution. In the same protest, some participants carried placards calling for the execution of Zarif, labeling the presidential deputy a traitor, further underscoring the heightened divisions within the regime.
Factional Clashes over Zarif’s Appointment Expose Deep Divisions in #Iran’s Regimehttps://t.co/PX6DZXxD10
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) November 28, 2024
The backlash against Zarif also extended to his comments on mandatory hijab enforcement. To dodge international blame, Zarif had stated that the regime had decided to “ease pressure on women” regarding hijab laws, drawing ire from many officials inside the regime. Hamed Davoudi, a Friday prayer leader, retorted, “Who are you to speak on behalf of the state in Davos?” Another MP, Mohammad Manan, accused Zarif of “mocking God’s laws” and demanded judicial action against him.
Despite the wide-ranging criticism, analysts suggest that the primary concern among Zarif’s opponents lies not in his hijab comments but in the possibility of renewed negotiations with the U.S. MP Ali Khezrian accused Zarif of exposing the regime’s vulnerabilities on the global stage. “We must thank Mr. Zarif for showing the world the extent of internal discord within the state,” Khazarian said sarcastically, adding that Zarif’s rhetoric undermines the cohesion of Khamenei’s loyalist base.
Ahmad Alamolhoda, Khamenei’s representative in Mashhad, criticized pro-negotiation officials, declaring, “You look to the gates of Europe and America for salvation, but what do you want to negotiate with? A failed administration mired in humiliation?”
Instead of engaging in fruitless negotiations and offering incentive packages, European countries must blacklist #BlacklistIRGC. The IRGC is exploiting these concessions to sustain its existence and prolong the suffering of the Iranian people.https://t.co/ocG2Jt3CKR
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) April 22, 2023
Khamenei’s representatives, including Ahmad Khatami in Tehran, reinforced the Supreme Leader’s longstanding position, stating, “The state’s stance on the U.S. is unchanged: it is the Great Satan. Any talk of negotiation only serves their agenda to confront the revolution.”
The regime’s escalating internal discord reflects its growing desperation as it faces mounting crises. Khamenei, fearing that renewed conflict with the U.S. or the continuation of Trump’s “maximum pressure” campaign will further erode his regime’s fragile foundations, has dispatched Zarif to Davos with false rhetoric of readiness to negotiate. This calculated move aims to buy time and mislead the international community into believing that the regime is open to diplomacy. However, Khamenei’s inability to rein in his own faction has backfired, as the internal attacks on Zarif’s statements further exposed the regime’s disunity and vulnerability, weakening it even more.