Iranian President Pezeshkian Accused of Coup Plot: “He Wants Normalization”
Hardliners in Tehran accuse President Masoud Pezeshkian of undermining Supreme Leader Khamenei amid his prolonged absence. Over 30 MPs demand impeachment as whispers of a post-Khamenei Iran grow louder.
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Political tensions in Iran are escalating following the recent 12-day war with Israel. President Masoud Pezeshkian is now facing mounting accusations from conservative factions within the regime, who claim he is attempting to weaken Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and push for normalization with Israel.
More than thirty members of parliament have called for Pezeshkian’s removal from office. The move reflects deepening power struggles within the regime, exposing internal divisions after a short-lived appearance of unity during the war.
The harshest criticism comes from Iran’s ultra-conservative establishment, which accuses Pezeshkian of betraying the principles of the Islamic Revolution and seeking to realign Iran with Western powers. In a widely circulated video, MP Abolfazl Zahravand, a former ambassador, stated that Pezeshkian’s government could end the Islamic Revolution before his term is over. He added that some believe the end of Khamenei’s rule would open the door to a new era — one in which Iran could join the Abraham Accords. When asked if this was a coup, he replied simply, “What else could it be?”
Though extreme, these statements reflect a broader anxiety in Tehran over the Islamic Republic’s future after Khamenei. The Supreme Leader has been largely absent from public view during and after the Israeli strikes, and his advanced age has intensified speculation over his succession.
President Pezeshkian addressed the rising tensions indirectly, telling staff that no one has the right to impose their views on others. He said opposition to the regime does not automatically make someone an enemy, and that favoritism and power must not override principles.
Even from within Khamenei’s circle, voices have emerged in defense of Pezeshkian. Mohammad Mokhber, a senior advisor to the Supreme Leader, warned against efforts to discredit the president’s political legitimacy, calling such moves “a mistake.”
Reformist figures are also sounding alarms about potential internal collapse. Former government spokesperson Ali Rabiei wrote in Etemad newspaper that while the dust from the explosions has not yet settled, the sound of internal rifts is louder than the blast of the missiles. He emphasized the urgent need to prevent fragmentation within Iranian society, warning that this is exactly what Iran’s enemies hope to provoke.
Nuclear physicist and former MP Ahmad Shirzad urged the leadership to involve the public in decision-making, stating that only if citizens feel represented by the government can Iran maintain its political stability.