Iran Faces Faction Clash Over How to Handle US Talks

Iranian hardliners aligned with the IRGC threaten to derail indirect talks with the United States, while a pragmatic bloc led by parliamentary speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf pushes to keep diplomacy alive. The split highlights deep tensions within Iran’s power structure as Islamabad hosts negotiations, raising doubts about the regime’s ability to balance confrontation with diplomacy amid domestic crackdowns and a volatile regional environment.