A prominent hardline Iranian lawmaker was sentenced to prison this year, highlighting deep divisions within the country’s leadership over diplomatic negotiations with the United States. Hamid Rasaei, a cleric and member of the ultra-hardline Paydari faction, was convicted of publishing false information intended to damage the reputation of Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s Speaker of Parliament and lead negotiator with the US.

Rasaei received a 10-month prison sentence in June and was ordered to report to Evin Prison in Tehran on September 15. He eventually turned himself in on September 27 and is currently held in the clerical ward, according to Iranian state media. He is believed to be the first sitting lawmaker to be incarcerated under such circumstances.

Rasaei has been an outspoken critic of the government’s negotiating team and President Masoud Pezeshkian, accusing them of orchestrating a “coup” and betraying the country’s revolutionary ideals by yielding to Washington’s terms to end the ongoing conflict. He openly challenged the legitimacy of the negotiations and suggested that the team was defying Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s authority in pursuit of a deal with the US.

The dispute has exposed growing fault lines between pragmatic officials, like Ghalibaf, who favor diplomacy to resolve the conflict, and hardliners like Rasaei who reject any concession. Observers suggest the judiciary’s decision to imprison Rasaei may reflect an effort by the establishment to rein in dissent and signal that internal opposition to a potential deal will not be tolerated.

The arrest has sparked protests and demonstrations in Tehran and other cities. Supporters of Rasaei have rallied against Ghalibaf and the negotiating team, accusing them of betrayal and calling for their prosecution. At least 15 lawmakers allied with Rasaei’s political faction have publicly opposed the Speaker, warning that government unity is faltering in the midst of a national crisis.

While Ghalibaf has refrained from public comment, members of his communications team emphasized the legal basis of Rasaei’s conviction, stating that all individuals must adhere to the law. Meanwhile, some conservative voices aligned with other parts of the government, including media affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, have criticized hardline factions for inconsistent support of judicial rulings—praising verdicts against opponents but condemning those involving their own members.

The court case originated from a 2024 article Rasaei published accusing Ghalibaf of manipulating parliamentary documents and acting as a dictator, allegations that led to Ghalibaf filing a lawsuit. Political analysts note that Rasaei’s imprisonment serves as a warning to hardline factions resistant to the government’s diplomatic initiatives. Ahmad Zeidabadi, a Tehran-based analyst associated with the reformist camp, characterized the arrest as politically motivated, indicating that further dissent will face consequences.