Iran: Islamic regime loyalists brand former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif ‘traitor’ for urging end to war

Note how famous religious vocalist Saeed Haddadian draws in Islamic regime loyalist crowds, which highlights the difficulty of working against the regime inside Iran. Iran’s devout Twelver loyalists are very much active, with their shouts of “Allahu akbar”:

Saeed Haddadian, a famous religious vocalist with close ties to Iran’s establishment, called ex-foreign minister Javad Zarif a “traitor” after his Foreign Affairs article urging an end to the war, and threatened to raid his home if he fails to retract his remarks within three… pic.twitter.com/1x08DZq7QS

— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) April 4, 2026

This highlights the devotion to the global jihad that is still widespread within Iran. According to this report from Manara Magazine, a large majority of about 70 percent of Iranians “oppose the continuation of the Islamic Republic” — i.e. 63 million people. But that also leaves the remaining 29+ million supporting it, as Iran has a population of “over 92 million” people.

There is also deception at play:

This is all lies, all staged propaganda! Don’t let any faction of this regime fool you — not even for a second. Reformists and hardliners are two sides of the same coin.
The reformists are nothing but IRGC terrorists dressed up in suits.
Don’t fall into their trap — because if… pic.twitter.com/WdYdllNONB

— Winds of change (@winds_of_chang3) April 4, 2026

Recall when Masoud Pezeshkian was elected President in 2024. He was often referenced as a “reformist” in the Western media, which he never was, except by comparison with the more obvious hardliners. Nonetheless, the war on Iran is exerting extreme pressure on the regime, which, one hopes, will ultimately cause enough disruption to translate into regime change from the inside.

In an article published in Foreign Affairs, Zarif said Tehran should “use its upper hand not to keep fighting but to declare victory and make a deal,” warning that continued conflict would lead to “further destruction of civilian lives and infrastructure.”

“Hardliners pile on ‘traitor’ Zarif, urge his arrest over call for end of war,” Iran International, April 3, 2026:

Iranian hardliners on Friday branded former foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif a “traitor” and accused him of espionage over his call to end the war, with a lawmaker urging the judiciary to arrest him along with former president Hassan Rouhani.

Hardline lawmaker Hamid Rasaei urged the judiciary to issue what he described as a “judicial shot” to detain the two, following comments in which Rouhani called for preparations to end the war “honorably” and Zarif outlined a framework for de-escalation.

In an article published in Foreign Affairs, Zarif said Tehran should “use its upper hand not to keep fighting but to declare victory and make a deal,” warning that continued conflict would lead to “further destruction of civilian lives and infrastructure.”

He proposed that Iran could “offer to place limits on its nuclear program and to reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for an end to all sanctions,” and called for “a comprehensive peace deal” rather than a ceasefire.

He also called for the lifting of economic sanctions and the signing of a non-aggression pact and even restoration of diplomatic ties between Iran and the United States.

Rouhani, for his part, said the country should be prepared to end the war in a way that serves national interests and the public, stressing the need to coordinate resources to prevent attacks on Persian Gulf islands and maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz. He added that preserving the country and the Islamic Republic requires immediate policy reforms.

Hardliner threatens raid on Zarif’s home

Zarif became a target at several state-organized rallies across Tehran on Friday night, where his photos were torched and demonstrators held placards calling him and Rouhani “traitors” and agents of the United States, urging their execution….