Iranian hard-liners demand impeachment after Araqchi-Witkoff talks in New York

September 23, 2026 at 03:03 PM2 min

This digest was compiled by AI from multiple sources — links to the originals are below.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met White House Special Representative Steve Witkoff in New York on September 22. Hard-liners inside Iran reacted with fury, with some demanding impeachment proceedings against the government of Masud Pezeshkian. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps had appeared to endorse talks hours before the meeting was made public.

Key Facts

The meeting between Araqchi and Witkoff took place on September 22 on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.
Hard-liners demanded impeachment proceedings, though it was unclear whether they targeted Araqchi or Pezeshkian.
IRGC spokesman told state television that negotiating "is another facet of war" and talks can be held "if the interests of the country so require."
Witkoff said the talks were carried out through mediators and hoped they "will prove constructive and promising."
Pezeshkian is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on September 23, the first day of the school year in Iran.

Hard-liner Backlash

Hard-liners took to social media to condemn the government for agreeing to meet with the Americans to end the nearly seven-month-long war. Some called for impeachment proceedings, though they were not clear whether they wanted Araqchi or Pezeshkian removed from office. Economist Vahid Azizi, a former official at the Iranian National Tax Administration under late president Ebrahim Raisi, wrote that anyone who met and negotiated with the Americans "better stay there." Hard-line commentator Mohsen Maqsudi called negotiating with Washington while "under threat" and causing a drop in oil prices "sheer stupidity."

IRGC Position

The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps appeared to endorse talks hours before the meeting was made public. An IRGC spokesman told state television that negotiating "is another facet of war" and that talks can be held "if the interests of the country so require."

Meeting Details

The precise details of the talks, which Witkoff said were carried out through mediators, have not been made public. Witkoff said he hoped the talks "will prove constructive and promising." Iranian media said Tehran conveyed its conditions for the reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz. During his speech at the UN, Trump said he would either strike a deal with Iran or "annihilate" it.