Internal dissent against deal will not be tolerated, analyst says
Any opposition to a potential nuclear agreement between Iran and the West is unlikely to gain traction, an Iranian political analyst said, noting that current negotiations are backed by the entire ruling establishment.
“Today, the entirety of the Islamic Republic is negotiating,” said Ahmad Zeidabadi in a recent interview. “If a deal is reached, it cannot be turned into a tool for domestic infighting,” he added, referencing how past nuclear talks were used in factional disputes between conservatives and reformists.
Zeidabadi argued that, unlike the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), this round of diplomacy is not being led by a single administration, but by a collective decision of the Iranian system. “The decision is not left on the shoulders of one person like [former President Hassan] Rouhani.”
Zeidabadi pointed to a recent unprecedented police raid on a group of pro-hijab protesters camped outside the Iranian parliament as a sign that the government is clamping down even on its traditional supporters when they defy state priorities.
“If anyone wants to oppose [a deal], they’ll be treated the same way,” he said.
The protesters, mostly conservative women, were demanding faster enforcement of strict hijab laws but were forcibly dispersed by hundreds of security forces after over 45 days of vigil.
