{"id":345332,"date":"2026-05-25T19:25:24","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T18:25:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/?p=345332"},"modified":"2026-05-25T19:25:24","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T18:25:24","slug":"iranian-regimes-existential-panic-has-sparked-an-internal-war-for-survival","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ncr-iran.org\/en\/news\/nuclear\/iranian-regimes-existential-panic-has-sparked-an-internal-war-for-survival\/","title":{"rendered":"Iranian Regime\u2019s Existential Panic Has Sparked an Internal War for Survival"},"content":{"rendered":"
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FILE PHOTO: The usual political theatrics in Iran\u2019s parliament (Majlis)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Three-minute read<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

As Iran\u2019s economy collapses under runaway inflation<\/a>, a plunging currency and fresh waves of protests by retirees, workers and teachers, the regime\u2019s ruling elite has turned its guns inward. Ritual calls for \u201cunity\u201d and \u201cwartime conditions\u201d have given way to open factional warfare. State media now document the power struggles, exposing two irreconcilable camps: one that believes only tactical concessions to the West can prevent a new, more radical nationwide uprising; the other that warns any submission will destroy morale among the loyalist base and regional proxies, leaving the system defenseless before an explosive society.<\/p>\n

Parliamentary Power Struggles<\/h2>\n

The latest flashpoint erupted during the Majlis elections for the third session of the 12th parliament on May 25, 2026. The state-owned newspaper Jahan Sanat reported<\/a> that, despite public insistence on internal cohesion, \u201cthe special conditions of the country have not prevented the usual horse-trading.\u201d It openly exposed what it called \u201cthe Paydari<\/em> operation to bring down Ghalibaf,\u201d in which extremist factions fielded candidates such as Morteza Aqa-Tehrani and Naghd-Ali to split votes and block Speaker Mohammad-Baqer Ghalibaf from securing a strong position. Jahan Sanat noted that the ultra-hardliners \u201cknow very well that their political weight is not comparable to Ghalibaf\u2019s, yet they are trying to prevent him from gaining full control of the Majlis with a high vote count.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although Ghalibaf was re-elected for a seventh term, the paper exposed factional feud and efforts to oust his allies from deputy-speaker and secretariat posts, including a \u201cmovement of nominations\u201d aimed at scattering pro-Ghalibaf votes. These battles reflect a deeper strategic rift over regime survival.<\/p>\n

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"The infighting is taking place while the regime hasn\u2019t decided about the course\u2014concession or going to #IranWar\u200c<\/a>. Once the final decision is made, a major fracture is expected to weaken the regime severely, exposing it to the outburst of social anger that is witnessing these\u2026<\/p>\n

— NCRI-FAC (@iran_policy) May 12, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n