▲ Iranian hardliners protesting against a ceasefire two months ago
As the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end the war between the United States and Iran becomes imminent, hardliners within Iran have staged protests, according to the hardline-leaning Fars News Agency on Saturday.
According to the report, dozens of people gathered outside the Foreign Ministry building in the northeastern city of Mashhad on Friday to denounce Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who had formalized the signing of the end-of-war MOU via state television.
Women wearing black chadors waved red and black flags in front of the building, chanting, "Death to the shameful traitor Araghchi."
The protests appear to demonstrate the fierce opposition among Iranian hardliners to the peace agreement being pushed by U.S. President Donald Trump and mediating nations.
Hardliners argue that the agreement does not serve Iran's national interests and will strip the Iranian government of its dominance over the Strait of Hormuz.
They are also raising their voices in criticism, claiming that the Iranian negotiating team made too many concessions to the U.S. side to reach the deal.
Earlier, Minister Araghchi stated in an interview with state television on Friday that the agreement on the negotiating table includes the lifting of the maritime blockade imposed by the U.S. on Iranian ports in response to Iran's measures to block the Strait of Hormuz.
Referring to the Strait of Hormuz as one of Iran's "key deterrents," he added, "The control and management of the Strait of Hormuz will no longer be the same as before."
Meanwhile, AFP reported that unverified videos on social media also captured crowds outside the Foreign Ministry building in the capital, Tehran, and other locations, denouncing Minister Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is the head of the negotiating delegation.
While U.S. President Donald Trump and the Pakistani side have stated that the agreement could be officially signed as early as today, June 14, the Iranian government is showing a more cautious stance regarding the timing of the signing.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.