Several Iranian officials have rejected United States President Donald Trump’s claims of a rift in leadership in Tehran, insisting that their country remains united.
Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf all issued statements rejecting the United States President’s claim.
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Pejeshkian and Ghalibaf joined the Supreme National Security Council in posting the same message on X.
“There are no radicals or moderates in Iran,” it said.
“We are all ‘Iranians’ and ‘revolutionaries,’ and with the iron unity of the nation and the government, with absolute obedience to the Supreme Leader of the Revolution, we will force the aggressive perpetrator to regret his actions.”
Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref also shared the statement, adding another note in English.
Aref said, “Iran is not a country of cracks, but a bastion of unity.” “Our political diversity is our democracy, yet in times of crisis, we stand ‘single handed’ under one flag. To protect our soil and honour, we transcend all labels. We are one soul, one nation.”
Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not made a public appearance since replacing his father Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on February 28.
US officials have said the younger Khamenei was injured and “disfigured” in the attack that killed his father.
The New York Times reported Thursday, citing unnamed Iranian officials, that Khamenei was seriously injured but “mentally sharp.”
Trump and his aides have been reiterating daily for the past week that there are major differences between Iranian leaders.
The US President claimed that Iranians are “having a very hard time figuring out who their leader is”, alleging that there is a “crazy” battle going on in Tehran between “moderates” and “fundamentalists”.
Trump’s reference to the alleged rift could serve to justify an extension of the ceasefire as well as blame Iran for stalled diplomacy.
However, Tehran has in the past insisted that the talks – which were previously scheduled to take place in Pakistan – are not taking place due to the US blockade of its country’s ports.
On Thursday, Araghchi rejected allegations that the Iranian military is at odds with the political leadership.
“Israel’s failure to carry out terrorist killings is reflected in how Iran’s state institutions continue to operate with unity, purpose and discipline,” he wrote on X.
“The battlefield and diplomacy are perfectly coordinated fronts in a single war. The Iranians are all united, more than ever.”
The diplomatic standoff with the US, Trump suggested he is comfortable with the status quo of blocking Iran’s ports to inflict economic pain on the country without resuming the war or moving towards a decisive agreement.
“Iran’s navy lies at the bottom of the sea, their air force is decimated, their anti-aircraft and radar weapons are gone, their leaders are no longer with us, the blockade is air-tight and strong and, from there, it only gets worse – time is not on their side!” Trump said this on social media on Thursday.
“Any agreement will be reached only when it is fair and good for the United States, our allies, and indeed the rest of the world.”
But the ceasefire remains weak under the status quo. Earlier on Thursday, air defense was activated over Tehran, but there has been no official confirmation of the attack against the country.
Earlier on Thursday, Trump had said that the US military would ‘shoot and kill’ Iranians laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz, which could lead to a reaction.
And oil prices are rising once again due to uncertainty in the Gulf and the dual blockade – Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the US naval blockade of Iranian ports.
Israel also seems ready to join the war again. Defense Minister Israel Katz said Thursday that his country is waiting for Trump’s green light to return Iran to the “Dark Ages.”
According to the Times of Israel newspaper, Katz said, “Israel is ready to restart the war against Iran. (The Israeli army) is ready in defense and attack, and the targets are marked.”
