Hardliners and moderates: What do Iran’s factions think of deal with US?

Tehran, Iran – The road leading to the signing the memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran has been difficult.

And the announcement on Sunday that a deal had been reached does not mean that everything will be straightforward from now on, even after the planned signing of the deal on Friday in Switzerland.

Factional differences remain in Iran, and they are likely to emerge during the implementation phase over the coming months.

Here’s a look at who stands where in Iran’s political leadership and what they believe needs to happen so that Iran can avoid “capitulation” against the US and Israel.

The new supreme leader replaced his powerful slain father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, despite reportedly being wounded in the same air strike on February 28. But has not been seen or heard from publicly except for written statements attributed to him, and has not adopted a public position on the deal.

In the statements, Khamenei has predominantly focused on maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz, and guarding Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes as “national assets” that should not be surrendered.

This has prompted speculation and interpretations from different stakeholders.

The ultraconservative Keyhan newspaper, whose editor-in-chief was selected by the senior Khamenei decades ago, said the incumbent supreme leader has deliberately not referenced the nuclear programme since coming to power.