Iran's moderate political figures face growing threats of removal from power as internal divisions within the country's leadership intensify, according to U.S. officials monitoring the situation. Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that hardliners in Iran are moving to sideline or eliminate moderate voices who might support diplomatic engagement, particularly a potential deal with the United States. This shift comes amid renewed discussion in Washington about re-entering negotiations with Tehran, with Defense Department official Pete Hegseth urging Iran to accept a deal to end regional hostilities. Rubio emphasized that the current Iranian regime is experiencing deepening fractures, with the window for moderates to influence policy narrowing rapidly.
Rubio did not provide specific names of threatened moderates but described a coordinated effort by conservative factions to consolidate control over foreign policy and security apparatuses. Hegseth, speaking at a Pentagon briefing, argued that a negotiated settlement could halt Iran's proxy campaigns across the Middle East and reduce the risk of direct conflict with the U.S. Both officials suggested that any future agreement would require significant concessions from Iran on its nuclear program and missile development. The Biden administration has not formally re-entered talks with Tehran, though backchannel communications have reportedly resumed in recent weeks through intermediaries in Oman and Qatar.
When Marco Rubio warns that Iran's moderates risk being "eliminated," he is not just describing political rivalry — he is acknowledging that the regime's internal purge could shut down the last viable path to diplomacy. The fact that U.S. officials are now publicly highlighting this power struggle suggests Washington sees the window for a deal closing faster than anticipated. If hardliners fully marginalize pragmatic voices, any hope of curbing Iran's nuclear ambitions through negotiation may vanish — leaving military confrontation as the only remaining option.
