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Iranian security forces have arrested at least four senior reformist politicians on suspicion of plotting to overthrow the Islamic regime, raising tensions just weeks after the country’s deadliest unrest in years.
The arrests come at a time of strained relations with the US, which began talks with Iran on Friday but is still considering its possible military options against the Islamic republic.
Azar Mansouri, head of the Reformist Front – an umbrella organization representing reformist parties – was arrested at his home on Sunday, state-affiliated Fars news agency reported. Former Deputy Secretary of State for US Affairs Mohsen Aminzadeh and veteran politician Ibrahim Asgharzadeh were also detained.
The identity of the fourth prisoner was not revealed. State media said some other senior figures have also been summoned to the judiciary.
Fars accused those detained of “targeting national unity”, opposing the constitution, coordinating with “enemy propaganda” and encouraging “surrender” while setting up “clandestine mechanisms to overthrow” the Islamic theocracy. Three other prominent anti-regime political activists who called for a constitutional referendum have also been detained in the past week.
Iran is facing growing domestic and diplomatic pressure over the unprecedented death toll in recent street protests and the growing risk of military confrontation with Washington. US President Donald Trump said the US had “very good” talks with Iran on Friday and talks would continue, but warned that the consequences for Tehran would be “very serious” if the two sides do not reach an agreement.
The human rights activist news agency put the number of people killed during last month’s protests at 6,842. The Iranian government has confirmed the deaths of 3,117 people, including members of the security forces, but has blamed US and Israel-backed mercenaries and “terrorists” for the violence.
Iranian opposition groups abroad claim the death toll is in the thousands. Western diplomats are investigating those estimates, but acknowledge that it is very difficult to know how many people actually died because of limited access to information.
The deaths have shocked Iranian society and prompted reformist politicians to speak out and demand accountability for the actions.
Mansouri’s recent Instagram posts reflect deep pessimism about the prospects for reform in Iran’s current political structure. He expressed regret at supporting the presidential campaign of Massoud Pezeshkian two years earlier and called on him to resign.
Mizan, a news agency affiliated with Iran’s powerful judiciary, reported that those arrested on Sunday were involved in “coordinated activities aimed at inflaming the country’s political and social atmosphere amid military threats from the US and Israel.”
Meanwhile, Ali Shakouri-Raad, a senior politician and former reformist MP, alleged in a leaked audio recording that security forces themselves carried out acts of sabotage during the protests to justify the bloody crackdown, and questioned official claims that foreign agents were responsible for the killings.
Hardline MP Amir-Hossein Sabeti said on Sunday that Shakouri-Raad would have to present evidence for his claims or face trial.
The US has increased its military presence in the Gulf waters south of Iran ahead of the start of talks between the two countries, which are expected to continue in the coming days.
According to diplomats and analysts, the White House has demanded that Tehran permanently end all uranium enrichment, accept limits on its ballistic missile program and end support for regional terrorist groups. Tehran has said it can only accept the limits of its nuclear program.
Iran’s Foreign Minister and chief negotiator Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that the country cannot accept all of America’s demands. He also stressed that the Islamic Republic will not give up its right to enrich uranium domestically.
He said, “Standing strong is our biggest challenge at this time and the responsibility for this lies on the army and the diplomatic machinery.” “If you take a step back, it’s not clear how far you have to step back.”
