Only days ago, hardliners in Iran’s capital, Tehran, erected a massive banner at one of the city’s busiest intersections, declaring, “The Strait of Hormuz will remain closed.” This was interpreted as a directive from Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not made a public appearance since his designation last month.
However, this banner may soon be removed following Iran’s agreement to a two-week ceasefire and the reopening of the Strait, a request made by Pakistan, which has been mediating between the United States and Iran. This development comes despite Iran’s repeated assertions that it would not accept a temporary ceasefire and sought a permanent end to the US and Israeli conflict with Iran.
The ceasefire has reportedly caused significant discontent among Iranian hardliners. They had been emboldened by Iran’s demonstrated capability to close the Strait and disrupt Gulf countries with missiles and drones, arguing that Iran held the advantage against the US and Israel and should have pressed on with the war. Reports from Tehran indicate that hardliners set fire to US and Israeli flags after the ceasefire announcement on Tuesday. Furthermore, members of the Basij volunteer militia, controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), marched to the foreign ministry overnight to protest the decision. The editor of the hardline newspaper Kayhan subsequently described the ceasefire agreement as “a gift to the enemy,” suggesting it would allow adversaries to regroup and continue the conflict.
The decision to accept the request from Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his army chief was made by the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), Iran’s highest decision-making body under the supreme leader, currently headed by moderate President Masoud Pezeshkian. The SNSC announced that safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz would be permitted for two weeks in exchange for a ceasefire from the US and Israel, while Washington and Tehran engaged in negotiations. Sources suggest that China played a crucial role in persuading its close ally, Iran, to agree to Pakistan’s proposal.
The 40-day conflict has inflicted severe destruction upon Iran, with human rights activists reporting over 3,000 fatalities. US President Donald Trump had previously threatened even greater levels of death and devastation. Even among hardliners, a consensus began to emerge that a resolution was necessary to prevent further damage to Iran’s critical infrastructure. Hours before the ceasefire announcement, hardline Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei stated on Iranian state TV that Iran was seeking an end to the war while still maintaining an upper hand, a sentiment echoed by former moderate Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in a recent article.
The SNSC has framed the ceasefire agreement as a victory for Iran, urging regime supporters to remain unified. According to Iranian media, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is slated to lead the Iranian delegation in direct talks with US Vice President JD Vance in Islamabad. This direct engagement with the US marks a significant departure from previous policy, as such negotiations were historically prohibited by the former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in an Israeli strike at the war’s outset. This shift appears to have been sanctioned by the new leader, his son.
Despite the ceasefire, a lasting peace between Iran and the US remains distant. The conflict could reignite if talks falter, a prospect some Iranians who supported the war, viewing it as a means to dismantle what they consider a hostile regime, might secretly hope for. For many others, however, the ceasefire offers much-needed respite from the surrounding death and destruction.
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