With Gen Z already lost, Tehran seeks a following in Gen Alpha

Trump's new press secretary Karoline Leavitt was asked by a reporter whether her boss would pursue means short of military action to topple Iran's ruling system.

"I think the President has actually made his position on Iran very clear, and he made that clear when there were the negotiations about the ceasefire, which we know obviously is now in place, and the deadline on that ceasefire has continued," she replied.

Trump had said on Jan. 7 that "all hell will break out in the Middle East” if Hamas failed to ink a deal to release Israeli hostages the Palestinian group funded and armed by Iran abducted in an Oct. 7, 2023 attack.

"He said that Hamas and Iranian-backed terrorists would have hell to pay if that ceasefire didn't move forward, and then quickly thereafter it did," Leavitt added.

Trump has said that Iran cannot be allowed to possess nuclear weapons but has suggested his administration will not seek to overthrow the Islamic Republic.

The ban enforced after the Islamic Revolution of 1979 was lifted in October 2019 under pressure from FIFA, the governing body for international football and its Asian counterpart the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

FIFA had warned Iran’s football federation that it could face expulsion from global tournaments including the World Cup if women were not allowed to attend.

Despite the policy change, opposition festers.

In March 2022 women who had bought tickets for a FIFA World Cup qualifier between Iran and Lebanon in the religious city of Mashhad were pepper sprayed when they tried to enter the stadium.

Women are still not permitted to attend all matches. Local authorities frequently cite what they call insufficient preparation, such as the lack of designated seating areas for women as a reason for their exclusion.

When women are allowed, the number of tickets available to them is often limited, and female enforcement officers in black chadors are present to ensure compliance with mandatory hijab laws.

Nevertheless, footage and photos posted on social media show defiance of the hijab is widespread.

The hardline newspaper Kayhan, closely linked to the office of Iran’s Supreme Leader, criticized the decision to allow women into stadiums. On Thursday, the daily accused proponents of the change of “implanting the idea that women’s success and dignity lie in imitating men’s behavior and attire.”

Kayhan’s criticism followed the release of footage showing female fans at a match between Tractor FC and Persepolis FC on Wednesday in which both male and female fans were seen cheering and occasionally swearing.

Kayhan argued that women’s presence has not improved what it described as the “poisonous and unhealthy atmosphere” of stadiums. It said it has led to violations of what it called women’s dignity, a “fundamental principle in Iranian and Islamic culture," according to the hardline paper.

Iranian authorities have long justified the ban on women’s attendance as a measure to protect them from exposure to profanities often chanted by male fans, even if women were seated in separate sections of the stadium.

Over the years, some women have taken significant risks to watch matches. Disguised as men, they attempted to enter stadiums but were often caught, arrested, abused or even sentenced to prison terms.

The ultra-hardline outlet Mashregh News also criticized FIFA President Gianni Infantino, suggesting he should have attended the Wednesday game week to understand the authorities’ stance against women’s presence in stadiums.

Infantino has consistently pressured Iran on this issue, particularly after the tragic case of Sahar Khodayari.

In September 2019, Khodayari, nicknamed the Blue Girl after her favorite team Esteghlal FC (nicknamed the Blue Team), set herself on fire after being sentenced to jail for attempting to enter Tehran’s Azadi Stadium disguised as a man.

This issue has also been reflected in art and media. Jafar Panahi’s 2006 film Offside depicted the story of young women disguising themselves as boys to watch a World Cup qualifying match at Azadi Stadium. The film won the Silver Bear at the Berlin International Film Festival but was never approved for screening in Iran.

Mohammad-Mehdi Hosseini Hamedani, the Friday prayer Imam of Karaj and the Supreme Leader’s representative in Alborz province accused supporters of negotiations of misleading the public.

"The enemy threatens Iran daily, yet some still talk about negotiations. The people know America cannot be reformed," he said during his sermon on Friday. He warned that those advocating for talks are placing Iranians in a false dilemma by pushing a narrative that all economic woes can be resolved through diplomacy.

Abdolnabi Mousavi-Fard, the Supreme Leader’s representative in Khuzestan, argued that Iran's strengthened regional position means talks are less necessary.

Any comprehensive talks with Washington, he insisted, would amount to surrendering to "illegitimate American demands."

"Before engaging in any new negotiations, the stance on America's demands must be clarified, as we know that the United States will not back down from its positions."

This comes as Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei urged officials this week to know their enemy when negotiating and to strike deals accordingly, cryptic remarks that some commentators interpreted as a tacit endorsement of US talks.

The remarks from hardline clerics come as the government signals openness to diplomatic engagement with the United States over Iran’s nuclear program.

In an interview with Sky News, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that while Tehran is open to hearing out President Trump, any new deal will be far more challenging to achieve than in 2018 when the original nuclear agreement was signed.

"The situation is different and much more difficult than the previous time," Araghchi said. "Lots of things should be done by the other side to buy our confidence … We haven't heard anything but the 'nice' word, and this is obviously not enough."

This follows President Trump’s earlier remark that it would be "nice" if the nuclear crisis could be resolved without escalation or the need for Israel to launch military strikes against Iran.

While Tehran signals a cautious willingness for dialogue, opposition from conservative clerics underscores internal divisions within the Iranian leadership, with hardliners urging defiance while the government assesses its next move.

At the same time, some of the key politicians who opposed the idea of negotiations with the United States have been realigning their stances and shifting their loyalties.

The conservative Jomhouri Eslami newspaper described the past week as marked by an intensifying war of words between supporters and opponents of negotiations aimed at addressing Iran's economic and foreign policy impasse.

The daily wrote: “Supporters of negotiations argue Iran cannot permanently cut ties with one of the world's major powers. They point to China and Russia, which have long-standing rivalries and conflicting interests with the US yet maintain relations. Likewise, they contend, Iran can engage with the United States and other nations—except those with illegitimate governments—without being vulnerable to coercion.”

"This group of politicians believes Iran must reconsider its foreign policy to better serve its own interests. On the other hand, opponents of negotiations, who are at the center of the recent infighting, argue that Iran should have no relations with the United States, as nothing justifies talks with Washington," the Jomhouri Eslami wrote, adding, "The opponents of negotiations with America insist that the United States is not trustworthy and that its officials do not honor their commitments."

The daily noted that this group organized rallies in Tehran over the past week to protest negotiations and their supporters. However, it added that statements from Iranian officials throughout the week suggest the country is more inclined than ever to pursue talks with the United States.

The daily added, "If this is the case, there is hope for a breakthrough in Iran's foreign relations that could lead to an improvement in Iranians' livelihood."

The commentary was part of the daily's weekly roundup in a tumultuous week of infighting and shifting alliances, including divisions within the conservative camp.

The conservative Nameh News website described an ongoing and unresolved rivalry between Majles Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and former Supreme National Security Council secretary Saeed Jalili.

The reformist, pro-government daily Etemad linked the disputes between the two politicians to their rivalry in past and recent presidential elections. In the June 2024 election, Ghalibaf withdrew his candidacy in favor of Masoud Pezeshkian, ultimately helping pave the way for Pezeshkian's victory in the runoff. According to Nameh News, the two politicians maintain opposing views about negotiations with the United States.

The website noted that, unlike Jalili, Ghalibaf does not oppose negotiations but believes Iranian negotiators should first align on their definitions and demands. However, it observed that Jalili and his supporters, particularly in the ultraconservative Paydari Party, oppose any form of talks between Iran and the United States.

"Jalili believes that Iran and the United States are fundamentally at odds, positioned as opposing forces by nature. He argues that escalating tensions between the two can serve as a means to restrain the other side," the website wrote.

As a result of the dispute, Ghalibaf—who has repeatedly shifted his loyalties over the past six months, moving between the Paydari camp and Pezeshkian's supporters—has once again aligned himself with the latter, Nameh News concluded.

Widening divisions are also emerging between pro-Pezeshkian reformists and the conservative faction. Ayatollah Mohsen Gharavian, a former ultraconservative who has joined the Reformists, insisted in an interview with Khabar Online that "the only way to end the sanctions is negotiating with global powers." He accused Jalili of mobilizing vigilantes in the streets against negotiations and argued that "he should distance himself from the radicals if he was not behind the rallies."

Meanwhile, Mohammad Karbasi, a hardline cleric in Qom, the center of the Shiite Seminary, accused reformist cleric Mohammad Ali Abtahi of "having a plan to instigate riots in the streets" after Abtahi recently stated in a post on X that "Iran's economy is affected by the impact of the sanctions" and that "negotiations can have a positive impact on Iran's economy if we have competent diplomats."

Hezbollah has traditionally played a key role in forming the government, working alongside its Shi'ite ally the Amal Movement which has controlled Lebanon’s finance ministry since 2014.

US officials are keen to limit their influence as Prime Minister-designate Nawaf Salam assembles a new cabinet, Reuters reported.

The US is exerting significant pressure on both Salam and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun to curb Hezbollah's power, Reuters cited a source close to the group as saying.

Lebanon could face difficulties securing foreign financial aid crucial for post-war reconstruction if Hezbollah or Amal were to select the next finance minister, Reuters reported citing other sources.

Washington’s intervention comes as Hezbollah’s position in the region has been shaken after over a year of combat with Israel.

Its key ally Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was toppled by Islamist militants, transforming the political landscape in Lebanon and the broader Middle East.

The damage from Israeli airstrikes last year was extensive, particularly in Shi'ite-majority areas where Hezbollah enjoys strong support.

While Hezbollah has urged international and regional powers to assist Lebanon’s rebuilding efforts, sources suggest that financial assistance is likely conditional on political changes—particularly the group’s diminished role in government.

Aoun’s presidency marks a shift from Iranian-backed dominance in Lebanon’s politics. Backed by factions seeking to reduce Hezbollah’s power, his election ended years of political paralysis and exposed the divide between Lebanon’s pro-Western and pro-Hezbollah blocs.

In his first parliamentary address, Aoun called for the Lebanese state to reclaim control over its military, signaling a challenge to Hezbollah. He said that his presidency would work towards ensuring the state had the exclusive right to bear arms—an implicit challenge to Hezbollah’s vast arsenal.

Iran’s embassy in Beirut congratulated Lebanon on Aoun’s election, expressing hope for stronger cooperation between the two nations. The statement did not address Hezbollah’s arms, reflecting the growing political tensions over the group’s future role in the country.