Three-minute read
The activation of the UN snapback mechanism has amplified long-simmering divisions within Iran’s clerical dictatorship, deepening rivalries between competing power centers. While the reinstatement of UN sanctions has worsened economic uncertainty, the regime’s internal fractures — long suppressed under Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei’s tight control — have now become increasingly visible.
The parliament, judiciary, and state-controlled media are openly clashing over who bears responsibility for the failures of the 2015 nuclear deal, years of economic mismanagement, and the mounting pressure of renewed sanctions. Analysts note that the growing public nature of these disputes reflects a breakdown in the regime’s ability to enforce cohesion at the top.
Paydari Targets Rouhani and the Judiciary
On September 8, Rajanews, a platform affiliated with the hardline Jebheh Paydari (Sustainability Front) led by Saeed Jalili, accused the judiciary of “inaction” in handling high-profile corruption and mismanagement cases linked to former President Hassan Rouhani and his negotiating team.
Rajanews criticized the judiciary for failing to recover “astronomical rewards” allegedly given to Rouhani’s diplomats during the nuclear talks, including “hundreds of gold coins” distributed to figures such as Mohammad Javad Zarif, Ali Akbar Salehi, and Abbas Araghchi — despite the team’s own admission that the outcome of the JCPOA was “almost nothing.”
The outlet also highlighted the stalled investigation into hundreds of thousands of complaints against Rouhani. According to the head of the parliamentary Article 90 Commission, at least two major legal cases against the former president remain unresolved after being referred to the judiciary.
#Iran Faces Deepening Power Struggles Amid @UN Sanctions “Snapback” https://t.co/7CqMVhSUWz
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) September 1, 2025
Pezeshkian Under Pressure from Rivals
The regime’s president Masoud Pezeshkian, who was appointed by Khamenei as a compromise figure to balance competing factions, has faced growing hostility from extremist factions. While Pezeshkian has aligned himself publicly with the Supreme Leader, outlets close to the IRGC and the likes of Kayhan Daily continue to frame him as weak and ineffective.
This tension was underscored by recent comments from Mohammad Jafar Qaempanah, Pezeshkian’s executive deputy, who warned that undermining the president amounts to “playing into the enemy’s hands.” He described the regime as existing in a state of “partial ceasefire” and cautioned rival factions against intensifying internal disputes at such a fragile moment.
Yet criticism from state media, including Kayhan, remains relentless. In one editorial, Kayhan accused Pezeshkian of “confusing war with ceasefire” and failing to take decisive action in response to the escalating crisis. The attacks highlight how Pezeshkian’s government has become a target in the broader battle for influence among the regime’s factions.
Power Struggles Intensify in #Tehran as Khamenei Faces Fracturing Factionshttps://t.co/l2CYP2iEzd
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) August 24, 2025
Jebheh Paydari’s Expanding Influence
At the center of this struggle is Jebheh Paydari, the hardline faction aligned with Saeed Jalili. Rajanews, their media arm, has positioned itself as the regime’s “shadow government,” aggressively pushing back against any perceived concessions on the nuclear program while undermining rivals within the state apparatus.
The faction is also shaping succession politics. Analysts note that Jebheh Paydari has quietly backed Mohammad-Mehdi Mirbaqeri, a cleric, as a potential successor to Khamenei, signaling an effort to secure long-term control over the direction of the regime. In parliament, figures like Hamid Rasae act as Paydari’s key operatives, using legislative pressure to constrain Pezeshkian and isolate revisionist-aligned figures.
By contrast, Khamenei’s attempts to balance these competing factions — for instance, by empowering Ali Larijani and Pezeshkian while quietly installing Ali Bagheri Kani, a Jalili ally, as Larijani’s deputy — have failed to contain Paydari’s lust for influence.
#Khamenei Rejects U.S. Talks, Backs Pezeshkian as Regime Faces Deepening Splitshttps://t.co/ZhUHUfNCG6
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) August 24, 2025
Khamenei’s Waning Grip
Perhaps the most striking consequence of these dynamics is the apparent erosion of Khamenei’s authority. His recent efforts to restrain factional warfare and preserve unity have largely failed, as demonstrated by continued attacks on Pezeshkian and calls within parliament for measures as extreme as withdrawing from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty or closing the Strait of Hormuz.
This breakdown in centralized control comes at a time of heightened external pressure, renewed economic pain, and persistent public discontent. Even among loyalist ranks — including sections of the IRGC and Basij — morale appears to be declining as the leadership struggles to project stability or deliver results.
#Tehran’s Leaders Split Over War, Talks, and Moralehttps://t.co/6pr5MEasXc pic.twitter.com/5BT3EsXe6H
— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) August 21, 2025
A Fragmented Regime Facing Its Limits
While the snapback sanctions have intensified Iran’s economic challenges, the deeper story is the accelerating fragmentation of power within the clerical dictatorship. Once able to manage rival factions through controlled competition, Khamenei now faces multiple competing centers of influence: Pezeshkian’s weakened presidency, Jalili’s emboldened Jebheh Paydari, a judiciary caught between factions, and an increasingly frustrated business and security establishment.
This competition is not about reform or accountability; it is a struggle for survival and dominance among elites who view the crisis as an opportunity to consolidate power. With no consensus on foreign policy, economic strategy, or succession, the regime risks becoming trapped in a cycle of paralysis and instability — just as international pressure mounts and society grows more restless.