The rivalry between rival factions within Iran’s ruling elite has intensified amid parallel developments in New York and Tehran during and after the United Nations General Assembly last week. The tensions revolve around prominent figures within the Islamic Republic, exposing deep fractures in the regime’s power structure.
At the center of the dispute are two main camps. One side includes Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, former President Hassan Rouhani, and former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. Opposing them are Saeed Jalili, the Supreme Leader’s representative on the Supreme National Security Council, Sadegh Mahsouli, former Interior Minister and Secretary-General of the hardline Paydari Front, Tehran MPs Hamid Rasaei and Amir-Hossein Sabeti Monfared, and Morteza Aqa-Tehrani, chairman of Paydari’s central council.
The factions, whose alliances shift between cooperation and conflict to maintain influence, are both accused of involvement in economic corruption and political repression, including crackdowns on dissent. The power struggle is unfolding against a backdrop of severe economic challenges in Iran, with unemployment estimated at 30 percent and inflation reportedly surpassing 90 percent, leading to significant price hikes for essentials like food and medicine.
Amid the UN General Assembly, Foreign Minister Araghchi delivered an address and reportedly engaged in high-level meetings. However, what drew significant attention was the reported request by Araghchi for US security protection and speculation he considered seeking asylum following threats directed at him and his family. These concerns heightened after the sudden death of his sister, Badr al-Sadat Araghchi, while he was in the United States, and the reported travel ban on his wife, Arezou Ahmadvand, preventing her from leaving Iran.
On the day before the Iranian delegation returned to Tehran, hardline cleric and Araghchi critic Hamid Rasaei was arrested and sentenced to 10 months in prison by the Special Clerical Court for “publishing falsehoods with intent to harm others,” related to an article alleging manipulation of parliamentary documents by Ghalibaf. Rasaei’s imprisonment, confirmed by judicial sources, has escalated the factional dispute, with his supporters transforming government-organized rallies into protests against the sentence and government media branding him a “criminal.” Rasaei's family publicly expressed pride in his stance against what they called lawlessness within the regime.
Political observers suggest the arrest marks a shift towards a more aggressive phase in the ongoing power struggle. Independent reporter Hamed Fathi noted that threats against Araghchi originated largely from Mahsouli, Aqa-Tehrani, Rasaei, and Sabeti Monfared, all linked to the hardline Paydari Front. This faction has repeatedly attempted to diminish Araghchi’s influence, efforts reportedly blocked by Ghalibaf.
The rivalry traces back to the June 2024 presidential election, where contested support between Ghalibaf’s and Jalili’s camps became evident. Since then, confrontations have increased, with Ghalibaf reportedly characterizing his opponents as “extremist paramilitaries,” and state-aligned media describing loyalists like Sabeti Monfared as “super-revolutionaries.” Both sides face accusations of repression, notably connected to violent events earlier this year.
Despite the turmoil, Ghalibaf retains a strong parliamentary majority, being re-elected speaker in May with significant support. Meanwhile, analysts anticipate the factional divide will continue to deepen, with expectations of further public confrontations, including the release of damaging disclosures and media campaigns aimed at undermining each other’s standing within the regime.
As Iran grapples with internal factionalism amid worsening economic and social conditions, the instability within its ruling circles raises questions about the government’s capacity to maintain unity and respond effectively to the country’s mounting challenges.