Mojtaba Khamenei’s Absence Fuels Factional Struggle Over Iran-U.S. Deal

Ali Khamenei died on 28 February 2026, prompting a war with Israel and a U.S. naval blockade (Operation Roaring Lion). His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, succeeded him but has not appeared publicly. Funeral rites ran in early July, where crowds chanted “Death to America” and “Kill Trump,” with burial slated for 9 July at Imam Reza shrine. On 29 June, 63 of 88 Assembly of Experts members issued a warning; the following day IRIB cut an interview with parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf discussing the U.S. memorandum of understanding (MOU).

YnetNewsYnetNews

The pragmatic camp includes IRGC generals, parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, President Masoud Pezeshkian and National Security Council head Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr. The hard-line camp comprises the state-broadcasting head, clerics and anti-U.S./Israel slogans. Vice President Mohammad-Jafar Ghaempanah, Central Bank governor Abdolnaser Hemati and Assembly of Experts play roles.

YnetNews

The contest decides whether Iran secures a ceasefire and economic relief or sustains a hard-line stance that could extend sanctions and war, while testing the new leader’s authority and the IRGC’s dominance over civilian institutions.

Is The Deal With Washington Fracturing Iran’s Elite Consensus?

Mojtaba Khamenei’s written statement opposed the MOU “on principle” but ordered the president to proceed if the Supreme National Security Council approved. Vice President Ghaempanah asked whether the leader’s view should be debated by Parliament and the council. President Pezeshkian warned of a severe budget crisis and threatened resignation. Hemati’s letter flagged an acute financial crunch and imminent shortages. The Assembly secretariat later called the 63-member warning “unusual and unconventional.”

YnetNews

Hard-liners denounced negotiators, chanting “Death to America” and “Kill Trump” at the funeral, and state TV intensified attacks on Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. The cut of Ghalibaf’s interview sparked calls to fire the state-broadcasting head, an appointee of the late Ali Khamenei.

YnetNews

One source says Mojtaba was wounded and his face burned in the opening strike; another gives no medical detail. The Assembly’s warning is both presented as a collective admonition and later dismissed as unofficial. The identities of senior IRGC generals backing the pragmatic camp remain undisclosed.

YnetNews

• “If we are supposed to only implement the supreme leader’s opinions, then why do we have a Parliament and a national security council?” — Mohammad-Jafar Ghaempanah, Vice President for Executive Affairs

YnetNews

• “In a written statement, he said he opposed the deal “on principle,” but instructed the president to proceed if he had the support of the Supreme National Security Council.” — Mojtaba Khamenei, written statement

YnetNews

• “We can read two different messages out of this,” — Babak Dorbeiki, political analyst

Is The Deal With Washington Fracturing Iran’s Elite Consensus?

• “July 4th in Tehran, Iran. It is the duty of every American patriot to pay respect and honor the life of Seyyed Ali Khamenei,” — Jackson Hinkle, influencer

YnetNews

Before the burial, Iran must name a new judiciary chief, state-broadcasting head, Basij commander and the supreme leader’s chief of staff. The MOU’s fate depends on continued council backing amid hard-line challenges.

YnetNews