Political Turmoil Erupts as Iran’s Leadership Faces Coup Accusations
Sandego.net – During a somber procession through Tehran last week, President Masoud Pezeshkian accompanied the coffin of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Yet the atmosphere surrounding the presidential figure was far from purely mournful. Black-clad attendees chanted not toward the deceased leader, but directly at Pezeshkian himself, calling him “the compromiser” and demanding his death. This public confrontation highlighted deep divisions within Iran’s political establishment at a critical moment.
Not far from the funeral route, another prominent figure faced similar hostility. Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s chief diplomat responsible for negotiating the recent ceasefire with the Trump administration and securing the lifting of certain sanctions, was compelled to escape the ceremony. A hostile crowd surrounded him, pelting him with stones while shouting accusations that he had betrayed his nation and sold out Iranian interests.
The Soft Coup Theory Takes Root
The animosity directed at senior officials during these funeral proceedings reflects a narrative that has been steadily gaining momentum among Iran’s most radical political factions. For several months, hardliners have been promoting the idea that the country’s wartime leadership is orchestrating a subtle takeover of the Islamic Republic. According to this theory, those who negotiated and ultimately signed the peace agreement with Washington are undermining revolutionary principles while the new supreme leader remains conspicuously absent from public life.
Some observers suggest Mojtaba Khamenei, the late leader’s son and successor, has stayed hidden either because he fears for his safety or because he is physically unable to perform his duties. Others believe his absence is purely political, allowing visible leaders to consolidate power without immediate oversight.
Hardliners who attended the funeral in substantial numbers argue that rather than seeking vengeance for Khamenei’s assassination, Iranian officials capitulated by accepting an agreement that contradicts the directives of Mojtaba Khamenei. Despite this, the new supreme leader has neither addressed the nation directly nor demonstrated clear authority, even as officials conduct negotiations and governance in his name.
Hardliners Mobilize Against the “Traitors”
Accusations against Iran’s visible leadership have intensified significantly. Hardliners claim that those managing the country while Mojtaba remains in hiding are attempting to consolidate power through multiple means. These include suspending parliamentary functions, ignoring the supreme leader’s instructions during negotiations, and trying to disperse the nightly street demonstrations that have become crucial power centers for fundamentalist supporters.
Mahmoud Nabavian, a vocal radical member of parliament, captured this sentiment on social media platform X days before the funeral. “Warning to the people of Iran: Is a coup on the way??” he questioned. Days later, he added: “In these moments of farewell to the martyred Imam (Khamenei), we raise the banner of vengeance for his blood and stand firm against the coup.”
With Mojtaba Khamenei remaining absent, three figures have emerged as the most prominent faces of post-war Iran: chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, President Pezeshkian, and diplomat Araghchi. Ghalibaf, a former Revolutionary Guard commander with extensive political experience, has effectively become the regime’s primary operator during the conflict.
The Ceasefire Crumbles Under Pressure
Despite calls for national unity during wartime, the weeklong grand funeral for Khamenei—who was killed in late February during coordinated Israeli and American airstrikes—became a platform for hardline demands. Supporters used the occasion to call for renewed hostilities with Washington and to reject any accommodation with the Trump administration.
These hardliner demands appear to have achieved their objective. A fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States nearly collapsed this week following Revolutionary Guards attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. The military actions were designed to assert Iranian control over this vital waterway. Washington responded with retaliatory strikes, while Iranian hardliners simultaneously renewed their demands to completely abandon the truce agreement.
Threats Mount Against Presidential Leadership
Arash Azizi, a United States-based Iran expert and author of “What Iranians Want,” explained the situation to CNN. “Mojtaba’s continued absence means that they don’t have access to him and also that Ghalibaf and allies are effectively in charge of the country… the ultra-hardliners have thus accused Ghalibaf and Pezeshkian of plotting a ‘coup’ against Mojtaba,” Azizi stated.
Before hostilities escalated, hardliners had already directed their anger toward the leaders who negotiated the American deal. Mohammad Ali Bakhshi, a security-connected religious singer loyal to the regime, delivered a stark warning to Pezeshkian during a ceremony: “Mr President, if the leader’s conditions are not fulfilled, then it will be us, the blade and your throat. We will bring hell upon you.”
While this open threat against the president drew widespread criticism, Bakhshi has not faced any legal consequences. The war with Iran has essentially transformed into a struggle over control of a tollbooth, with free navigation of international waters now under serious threat.
