Dozens protest peace deal outside Iran foreign ministry: media
Dozens protested in Mashhad against Iran's top diplomat over a reported peace deal with the US. Hardliners say the deal would weaken Iran's leverage over the Strait of Hormuz.
Intelligence analysis by GPT-5.4 Mini
Video shared by Fars showed protesters outside a foreign ministry office in Mashhad chanting against Abbas Araghchi after he discussed a possible peace deal on state TV. The pushback reflects hardline anger over terms they say would cost Iran leverage in the Strait of Hormuz.
People in Iran protested because they think a new peace deal could make their country lose an important bargaining chip, like giving up one of the strongest cards in a card game. The deal may help stop fighting, but some leaders think it gives away too much.
Analysis
What happened
Dozens of people protested outside a foreign ministry office in Mashhad, in northeastern Iran, after Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke on television about a possible peace deal with the United States. In footage shared by Fars news agency, women in black chadors were seen chanting against him and waving red and black flags.
Why the backlash matters
The article says the deal, which US President Donald Trump and mediator Pakistan say could be signed as soon as Sunday, is drawing resistance from hardline Iranian figures. Their objection is that the agreement would not serve Iran's interests and would reduce Tehran's leverage over the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway the article describes as one of Iran's main tools of deterrence.
What Araghchi said
In a televised interview on Friday, Araghchi said the draft deal on the table would lift the US naval blockade on Iranian ports, which he said had been imposed in response to Iran's own blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. He added that the administration of the strait would not remain the same as before.
Wider political signal
The protests were not limited to Mashhad. AFP said other videos circulating on social media, though not independently verified, showed chants in Tehran calling for Araghchi and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf to resign. The story points to pressure inside Iran even as outside actors discuss a possible deal.
Key points
- Dozens protested outside a foreign ministry office in Mashhad, Iran.
- Protesters targeted Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi after his TV interview about a US peace deal.
- Hardline critics say the agreement would weaken Iran's leverage over the Strait of Hormuz.
- Araghchi said the proposed deal would lift the US naval blockade on Iranian ports.
- Trump and Pakistan said the deal could be signed as early as Sunday, but Tehran sounded less certain.
If the deal is signed, it could ease tension and bring a halt to the fighting. The article says it would also lift the US naval blockade on Iranian ports, which could reduce pressure on shipping and trade.
The deal faces strong resistance from hardline Iranian figures, who say it gives away too much. If that opposition grows, the agreement could stall or collapse, and the dispute over the Strait of Hormuz could remain a source of tension.
