Iranian hardliners staged protests in Tehran and Mashhad on Saturday evening against the developing accord with the United States, focusing criticism on the negotiating team and top officials, as detailed by the Qatari-owned Arabic newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed.

Groups assembled in a central Tehran square and directed chants at Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi along with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

Protesters called out phrases such as Araghchi, be ashamed and leave the country, while others shouted Ghalibaf, Araghchi - what about the blood of our leader, according to the account.

A parallel gathering occurred in Mashhad near a Foreign Ministry office, with participants similarly directing slogans at Araghchi. Reports on social media noted isolated tensions in certain spots between backers and critics of the proposed arrangement.

Most public opponents of the emerging deal, per Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, come from conservative factions, especially those aligned with Saeed Jalili, the former secretary of Iran Supreme National Security Council.

Editorial Questions Deal Terms and Strait of Hormuz Concessions

Hossein Shariatmadari, editor of the hardline Kayhan newspaper, issued criticism in a piece addressed to Ghalibaf and Araghchi.

Did closing the Strait of Hormuz truly hinder the commercial and economic lifeline of the adversary, he asked, challenging the decision to relinquish what he viewed as a key leverage point.

Shariatmadari noted that obtaining compensation remained a stated priority from the revolution leader and wondered how such demands could be pursued if the strait were reopened under the framework, which he said would weaken Tehran position.

The conservative Fars News Agency, viewed as close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, reported that US President Donald Trump repeated push to finalize a memorandum of understanding with Iran on Sunday served as a challenge for the Iranian side.

Fars highlighted that Trump had set Sunday as the signing date, whereas Iranian negotiators indicated the understandings were incomplete and ruled out any signing then.

The agency added that Sunday, June 14, coincides with Trump birthday, suggesting an attempt to frame the event symbolically for publicity purposes.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei clarified that any potential understanding with the United States would represent only a framework to sustain discussions, not a completed pact between the nations.