Trump Claims Iran is Fracturing from Within, Here Are the Facts

US President Donald Trump has assessed that the Iranian regime is in a “very divided” state as he extended the ceasefire to give Tehran time to prepare a more “cohesive” proposal. The White House even views Iran’s absence from the second round of talks in Pakistan with Vice President JD Vance as proof of this division. However, several observers believe this claim does not reflect the actual situation. Iran continues to insist that the United States must halt the port blockade before negotiations resume. This stance is seen as an indication of consistency, not division. “I think that is a serious misinterpretation of Iran’s leadership,” said Professor of Government at Georgetown University in Qatar, Mehrat Kamrava, quoted by CNN International on Thursday (23/4/2026). “The leadership is quite cohesive, and we have seen this in the conduct of the war and negotiations.” Iran’s political situation has indeed become more complex after the United States and Israel eliminated several key figures, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Now, leadership is held by a cross-faction group of officials under the shadow of ongoing conflict and uncertainty about Mojtaba Khamenei’s role as successor. Despite coming from different political spectrums, these officials are assessed as still striving to demonstrate unity, especially in facing external pressure from Washington and internal pressure from hardline groups. “Various factions of Iran’s leadership are now more aligned than before the war,” said Executive Vice President of the Quincy Institute, Trita Parsi. “This smaller circle has actually made them more united in their war strategy than before.” Amid speculation about Iran’s participation in the talks, Tehran has consistently refused to join, citing Washington’s violation of the ceasefire and lack of seriousness in diplomacy. Iran also remains committed to its long-standing “red lines,” such as the right to enrich uranium, missile development, and support for proxy groups. The Iranian government has openly denied issues of internal division. Deputy Presidential Spokesperson Mehdi Tabatabai stated that “talk of division among senior officials is outdated propaganda from Iran’s enemies. The unity between the battlefield, the public, and diplomats is currently extraordinary.” As a symbol of unity, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf was appointed to lead negotiations with the US. In the initial meeting in Islamabad, he was even accompanied by a team representing various political factions, a move seen as a strong signal of internal cohesion. Nevertheless, differences in views still exist. Parsi emphasised that the failure to reach an agreement is not due to Iran’s division, but rather the complex dynamics of negotiations. On the other hand, Trump’s public communications are seen by some of his own officials as complicating the negotiation process. The president’s open statements on social media are said to worsen Iran’s distrust of the US.