'The New York Times reported today (Thursday) about disagreements and internal power struggles at the top of the Iranian government - in the shadow of renewed American attacks and President Donald Trump's reservations about an agreement with the regime.
According to the report, the tensions pit President Massoud Pazakhian's camp, which supports continuing negotiations with Washington, against the hardliners who oppose any agreement.
According to the report, during the funeral procession for Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei this week, disagreements spilled over into severe physical violence in the streets: an angry mob of hardliners attacked President Pazakhian with chants of "Death to the appeaser," while Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi was attacked with stones and forced to flee.
The security situation in the region escalated rapidly after the Revolutionary Guards attacked commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, a move that prompted massive US airstrikes on Iran's southern coast and an Iranian response with missiles and drones targeting US bases in Kuwait and Bahrain.
The New York Times noted that Iranian officials describe the political system in Tehran as being in "chaos" and engaged in a campaign of mutual accusations, with no decision yet made on whether to return to full military confrontation or stick to the diplomatic channel.
On the other hand, those around the president accused the US of bullying and violating its commitments, but strongly condemned the attack on senior officials from within and warned that internal division serves the enemy.
