Speaker of the Parliament of Iran Slams Hardliners Opposing Ceasefire Talks

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[The Financial News]  Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Speaker of the Parliament of Iran, sharply criticized hardline politicians at home who oppose ceasefire talks with the USA, saying they are "destroying the country."
On the 20th local time, The Jerusalem Post cited a report by Iran International, a semi-official outlet based in London, and said Qalibaf, who is currently co-leading the negotiating team with Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi, directly attacked internal forces trying to block the talks.
Qalibaf specifically singled out former SNSC Secretary Saeed Jalili and lawmaker Amir-Hossein Sabeti as "extremists," describing them as part of the "militant current."
\r\nHe stressed that they were using the state broadcaster to mislead public opinion and incite fundamentalists, thereby obstructing dialogue with the USA.
Qalibaf warned that refusing dialogue with the USA would ultimately lead Iran down a path of destruction.
\r\nIt was also reported that Qalibaf himself and Foreign Minister Araghchi feel threatened by the possibility of being removed from their posts for pushing ahead with the talks.
\r\nTensions are deepening inside Iran between pragmatists, who say talks with the USA are unavoidable to ease economic sanctions and stabilize the region, and hardline conservatives, who reject dialogue and portray the USA as an "axis of evil."
Qalibaf's remarks are seen as bolstering the diplomatic approach pursued by the moderate centrist Government of Masoud Pezeshkian, while also aiming to isolate internal opponents. However, hardline backlash is also intensifying, and internal friction over Iran's diplomatic line toward the USA is expected to continue for some time.
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jjyoon@fnnews.com Yoon Jae-jun Reporter