Iran hardliners accuse officials of coup as U.S. truce faces collapse

Hardline factions in Iran have accused visible officials of staging a soft coup by signing a truce with the United States instead of avenging the late supreme leader's killing. The accusations intensified during a weeklong funeral for the leader, who was killed in late February in Israeli airstrikes coordinated with the United States.

Hardliners used the event to demand renewed conflict with Washington and reject any agreement.

Ceasefire breakdown A fragile ceasefire between Iran and the United States collapsed this week after the Revolutionary Guards launched attacks on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington responded with retaliatory strikes, and hardliners renewed calls to scrap the truce.

In the weeks before hostilities, hardliners directed criticism at officials who negotiated the agreement. One security-linked religious singer warned the president that failure to meet the late leader's conditions would result in violence.

Hardliner removals and influence On Tuesday, a hardline lawmaker who opposed the agreement was removed from his position on the parliament's National Security Commission. Another parliamentarian critical of the deal was also removed. The lawmaker had been part of the negotiating delegation before turning against the talks and leaking the text to the media before it was signed last month.

Officials have not commented on the removals. Iran's population is around 93 million. One hardline figure received more than 13 million votes in the 2024 elections, finishing second.