Turmoil and Tensions: Iran’s Ultra-Hardliner Camp Faces Internal Divisions

A significant rift has emerged within Iran’s ultra-hardliner faction, especially following a prominent lawmaker’s unprecedented criticism of protests aimed at pressuring authorities to enforce a strict hijab law. This internal conflict highlights the complexities of Iran’s political landscape and the implications of the Supreme National Security Council’s (SNSC) recent decision not to implement the controversial legislation.

The decision not to enforce the hijab law could not have been made without the approval of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who has notably avoided discussing the issue in recent speeches. The enforcement of such morality legislation, which imposes severe penalties—including heavy fines and prison sentences on women who violate strict hijab rules—could provoke significant unrest and widespread anti-government protests.

Internal Clash Over Hijab Law Enforcement

Mahmoud Nabavian, a senior member of the hardline Paydari (Steadfastness) Party and a member of the Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, is facing backlash from allies after condemning recent protests led by radical elements. His surprising remarks have raised eyebrows within his faction, where he was previously seen as a key figure and strict enforcer of their agenda.

Despite his influential role in drafting the hijab legislation, Nabavian now emphasizes that preserving the Islamic Republic must take precedence over enforcing the law. He implicitly acknowledges the risk of unrest, stating, “If implementing the hijab law creates tensions and weakens the system, it should automatically be set aside.”

This perspective echoes a principle articulated by the Islamic Republic’s founder, Ruhollah Khomeini, who asserted that maintaining the system must take “utmost priority,” even at the cost of temporarily sidelining religious obligations like prayer and fasting. By this reasoning, the hijab law appears no exception—a stance authorities may now be compelled to accept, much to the frustration of the hardline political and religious establishment.

Concerns Over National Stability

Nabavian defended the SNSC’s suspension of the hijab law by referencing significant geopolitical developments, including the fall of Bashar al-Assad in Syria and Israel’s assassination of Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah. He cautioned that enforcing the law at this critical juncture could provide foreign adversaries an opportunity to destabilize Iran.

• “Given the country’s and the region’s current conditions, especially the situation in Yemen, and the need for national unity, we must all support the implementation of the law,” Nabavian stated.
• He warned that polarizing society, calling for illegal gatherings, and staging street protests—regardless of the faction—are detrimental to the country’s interests.

His remarks came soon after the US military conducted massive airstrikes against Iran-aligned Houthi rebels in Yemen on Saturday.

Defending Internal Unity

Hasan Soleimani, editor-in-chief of the hardline Mashregh News—which is believed to be linked to the Revolutionary Guards Intelligence Organization (SAS)—defended Nabavian’s stance. He accused radical hardliners of using the hijab issue as a pretext to disrupt national stability, even drawing a comparison to the Forqan group, an Islamist faction notorious for assassinating officials of the fledgling Islamic Republic and for a failed attempt on Khamenei’s life in 1981.

Nabavian also criticized ultra-hardliners, whom he terms “super-revolutionaries” or “radicals,” for openly defying Khamenei, particularly regarding their opposition to COVID-19 vaccinations. He stated, “I won’t even mention the disgraceful remarks they made [about Khamenei’s own vaccination].”

Furthermore, he linked their defiance to criticism over Iran’s planned two-month delay in retaliating against Israel’s attack on Iranian military facilities—a decision ultimately made by Khamenei. If Khamenei chooses to permit direct talks with the Trump administration, ultra-hardliners’ reactions could pose a significant challenge. Khamenei has ruled out the possibility of such talks in a recent speech and has not acknowledged a letter from the US President.

Former President Hassan Rouhani recently suggested that Khamenei’s stance could shift depending on circumstances, recalling how it changed in 2013 when he allowed secret talks with the US.

Warnings of a Fragile Political Climate

Media outlets and analysts have raised alarms about the potential for protests organized by “super-revolutionaries” to spiral out of control, reminiscent of the hardliners’ protests in Mashhad against moderate conservative Hassan Rouhani’s government in December 2017. Those protests quickly spread nationwide, leading to demonstrators in several cities chanting against Khamenei. The unrest resulted in at least 25 deaths and thousands of arrests.

However, the current situation differs significantly from 2017, according to an article in the reformist Etemad daily. It cited the presence of Trump in the White House and heightened regional tensions, along with a statement from the Supreme National Security Council Secretariat warning that any provocation or political polarization could cause irreparable damage to the country.

In summary, the internal divisions within Iran’s ultra-hardliner faction reflect deeper concerns about national stability and the potential repercussions of enforcing the hijab law amid a volatile political landscape.