Iran's hardliners fear being sidelined in US deal

In the run-up to the expected formal signing of the Iran-US memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Friday, Iran's political atmosphere has grown visibly more tense.

Hardline factions that stayed relatively muted during much of the war are now mounting a loud campaign against the leaked terms of the agreement, which has not been fully made public, accusing the negotiating team of retreat and betrayal.

The backlash is no longer confined to speeches and headlines. It has spilled into the streets, where groups of regime supporters have staged protest rallies.

Hardliners are calling for negotiations with the US to be stopped over fears the deal will reshape both Iran's foreign policy and its internal balance of power.

There were reports that dozens protested outside a Foreign Ministry office in the city of Mashhad, with similar hardline anger seen in Tehran as well.

According to videos and images circulated by domestic outlets and other published accounts, demonstrators in Tehran's Ibn Sina Square shouted slogans calling for the resignation of Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who are seen as the principal negotiators with the US .

Some of the protesters reportedly even shouted slogans calling for violence against Araqchi and Ghalibaf.

The street protests have been reinforced by criticism from hardline figures in Iran's Parliament .