Iran hardliners accuse leaders of 'coup' as US deal sours

A deepening political crisis is unfolding in Iran, with hardliners openly accusing the country's leadership of orchestrating a 'coup' against the Islamic Republic. The charges, reported by multiple international outlets, stem from growing tensions over a potential truce with the United States.

Slogans such as 'Death to the compromiser' have emerged at rallies, reflecting a sharp turn in rhetoric. Critics within the hardline camp now claim that ongoing negotiations with Washington amount to a 'soft coup' — a gradual undermining of revolutionary principles.

Hardliners turn on their own

The accusations mark a significant fracture within Iran's power structure. For years, hardliners and moderates have battled for influence, but direct allegations of a coup against the system itself are rare.

Reports from CNN and Indian outlets like NDTV and India Today describe a charged atmosphere. Hardliners warn that the leadership is selling out the Islamic Republic's core ideology in exchange for a deal with the US.

One report quoted a phrase that has gained traction among hardline circles: 'Us, blade, your throat.' The violent imagery underscores the depth of anger directed at leaders who were once seen as allies.

The US truce under strain

The immediate trigger for the backlash appears to be a renewed push for a truce with the United States. While details of the proposed agreement remain unclear, hardliners view any form of negotiation as a betrayal of the 1979 revolution's anti-American stance.

Washington has not officially confirmed the status of talks. But the mere prospect of a deal has inflamed tensions in Tehran, where memories of the 2015 nuclear accord and its collapse under the Trump administration remain raw.

Hardliners argue that the current leadership is repeating past mistakes. They claim the 'soft coup' is being executed through diplomatic channels, bypassing the traditional power bases of the clerical establishment and the Revolutionary Guards.

Internal power struggle intensifies

The accusations come at a time of intense internal competition. Hardliners have long dominated Iran's parliament and judiciary, but the executive branch has shown signs of moderation under President Masoud Pezeshkian? — a reformist who took office in 2024.

This ideological battle is now spilling into the open. Hardliners are using coup allegations to delegitimise the government, accusing it of abandoning the Islamic Republic's founding principles for the sake of economic relief.

The Revolutionary Guards, a key power broker, have not publicly taken sides. But their silence is being interpreted by analysts as a warning to the leadership not to go too far in accommodating Washington.

Officials in Tehran have not yet responded to the coup claims. State media has largely downplayed the protests, framing them as the work of a fringe minority.

What happens next could shape Iran's political trajectory for years. If the hardliners succeed in portraying the government as illegitimate, the path to any US deal will be blocked. If the leadership pushes through, it risks a direct confrontation with its own base.

For now, the Islamic Republic faces its most serious internal challenge in decades — one that pits revolutionary purity against the realities of governance.