Iranian hard-line MP Hamid Rasaei sentenced to prison, highlighting leadership split

Hard-line cleric Hamid Rasaei, a member of the ultra-conservative Paydari party, was sentenced to jail for publishing false statements intended to damage Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, who also leads Iran’s US negotiations. The case reveals a growing rift within Iran’s ruling elite, pitting hard-liners against the diplomatic team seeking a deal with Washington. Rasaei’s outspoken opposition to the negotiations has made him a focal point of intra-government conflict.