January 25, 2025- A woman at a state-staged rally holds a placard reading, “The American Zarif must be executed”

The Iranian regime’s internal divisions have deepened following comments made by Vice President Mohammad Javad Zarif at the World Economic Forum in Davos. Zarif’s remarks, which signaled a potential openness to negotiations with the United States, have sparked fierce backlash from key figures within the regime, exposing a growing rift amid mounting domestic and international pressures.

Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf criticized Zarif’s statements, cautioning that such rhetoric could lead to “miscalculations” by the U.S. administration. Without directly naming Zarif, Ghalibaf emphasized that officials must avoid comments that could endanger national interests or project internal discord to foreign adversaries. He argued that similar stances during Trump’s presidency resulted in significant setbacks, including the U.S. withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the assassination of General Qassem Soleimani.

Zarif, in Davos, had expressed optimism that the current U.S. administration might adopt a more reasonable approach toward Iran. However, his remarks were met with strong opposition from regime hardliners aligned with Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Abdolhossein Ruholamini, a member of parliament, accused Zarif of emboldening foreign adversaries, while MP Hamid Rasaee went so far as to label Zarif’s appointment “illegal” and demand judicial action against him.

The controversy has sparked public demonstrations by regime loyalists, including the provocative “Coffin-Bearers’ Protest,” where participants carried placards calling for Zarif’s execution. Allegations from protestors suggested Zarif had covert ties to the Shah’s intelligence agency prior to the 1979 revolution, further inflaming tensions. Additionally, Zarif’s comments about easing hijab enforcement laws drew ire from clerics and MPs, with one prayer leader questioning Zarif’s authority to make such statements.

Amid the backlash, analysts suggest that the regime’s primary concern is Zarif’s openness to renewed negotiations with the U.S., which they believe undermines Iran’s stance on foreign policy. MP Ali Khezrian sarcastically thanked Zarif for exposing the regime’s vulnerabilities on the global stage, while Ahmad Alamolhoda, Khamenei’s representative, dismissed any possibility of diplomacy, calling the U.S. the “Great Satan.”

This episode highlights the Iranian regime’s fragility as it faces increasing internal and external challenges. Khamenei’s strategy of projecting a façade of diplomacy to buy time appears to have backfired, further revealing the regime’s disunity and growing desperation.

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