The New York Times: Iranian politics is divided due to the assassination of Ayatollah Khamenei, pragmatists seek to negotiate with the United States
According to a report by The New York Times, after the assassination of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, conservative factions in Iran have split into pragmatic factions seeking to end hostilities and open up the economy, as well as hardliners who refuse to make concessions on the nuclear issue and advocate for an extension of the war. Four senior Iranian officials and two IRGC members have stated that various factions are vying for the support of the newly appointed Supreme Leader Mujtaba. The pragmatic faction includes IRGC General, Speaker of Parliament Khalibaf, President Pezeshkian, and National Security Council Secretary Zolghadr. The pragmatic faction advocates accepting a ceasefire, engaging in direct dialogue with US Vice President Vance, and reaching an agreement with Trump. Vice President of Administrative Affairs Mohammad Jafar Ghaempanah stated that the new Supreme Leader does not have the final decision-making power, and Iran's decision-making is shifting towards collective decision-making.