Reactions to U.S.-Iran Meeting

Following a recent meeting between White House Special Rep. Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, there was a notable uproar on Iranian social media, particularly from hardliners. Some users called for the removal of both Araghchi and President Masoud Pezeshkian from their positions.

Interestingly, the military leadership in Iran, primarily the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), appeared to have a somewhat supportive stance toward these diplomatic encounters. An IRGC spokesman described such negotiations as “another facet of war,” which is… well, I guess it’s a reminder that their thinking is layered.

Once the meeting took place, the tone on Iranian social media shifted dramatically. Reports indicated that some commenters suggested impeachment proceedings against Araghchi or Pezeshkian, although it wasn’t entirely clear who they wanted gone. Critiques emerged with claims that this meeting was a “bigger mistake” than Pezeshkian’s previous trip to the U.S. for the UN General Assembly.

One economist, Vahid Azizi, vented his frustration online, arguing that anyone who negotiates with the Americans should just stay there because “Iran is a country for honorable people.” It gives you a sense of the division in views.

Another hardline commentator, Mohsen Maqsudi, labeled it “sheer stupidity” to engage in talks with Washington while under threat, cautioning that it could lead to a drop in oil prices when Tehran had hoped that rising fuel costs would compel Trump to ease pressures.

In another wave of backlash, hardline parliamentarian Ebrahim Rezaei questioned under whose authority Araghchi engaged with a “representative of an aggressor enemy.” It’s quite a rhetorical stance.

The state-run Tasnim News Agency branded Araghchi’s meeting with Witkoff as “absurd,” emphasizing that Iran’s demands to stop terrorist activities in the Strait of Hormuz had already been made clear. Similarly, Fars News criticized Araghchi for potentially jeopardizing a strategy centered around elevating oil prices that could sway U.S. Congress against Trump.

Pezeshkian, in his address at the U.N. General Assembly, fiercely condemned the U.S. and Israel for “terrorism” and “war crimes,” following the hardliners’ demands. He referenced the bombing of a girls’ school in February, which Iran insists was a deliberate attack by the U.S. on civilians.

It should be noted that the discussions between Witkoff and Araghchi were described as “indirect,” utilizing mediators from Qatar instead of direct communication. The talks themselves reportedly lasted around three hours.

Both Witkoff and Trump expressed satisfaction with the dialogue, marking the first direct diplomatic engagement between the U.S. and Iran since June’s memorandum aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump described the meeting as “very good” and optimistic about the potential for resolution, saying he sensed “a lot of momentum for them to make a deal.”

However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio tempered expectations, stating that while it wasn’t to be regarded as a major breakthrough, it was significant that dialogue had occurred. He expressed reservations about whether Araghchi and Pezeshkian could secure consensus with the IRGC and hardline politicians on any peace agreement that the U.S. would find acceptable.

Rubio underscored that the ultimate decision-making in Iran rests with staunch believers in the Iranian revolution, complicating any cooperative efforts.