Iranian hardliners in vociferous push to reject proposed peace deal with US
The Guardian • • nation
Key Points:
- Iranian hardliners have strongly rejected a proposed deal with the US, criticizing it for not guaranteeing sanctions relief, compensation, or control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
- Iranian officials defending the deal argue it would end regional conflicts, including Israel’s offensive in Lebanon, without new nuclear commitments, and claim the deal allows Iran and Oman to charge fees for passage through the strait.
- Critics, including members of the hardline Paydari Front and influential media, protest that the deal relinquishes Iran’s key leverage by allowing free commercial shipping, including Israeli vessels, through the Strait of Hormuz.
- Supporters counter that the opposition does not represent ordinary Iranians and emphasize that wars against superpowers rarely yield outright victories, urging acceptance of the deal to end conflict.
- The internal Iranian debate may bolster US President Donald Trump’s position that the new agreement is superior to the 2015 nuclear deal, though experts note the two deals differ fundamentally in scope and objectives.
