Iranian security forces have arrested at least four senior reformist politicians, accusing them of plotting to undermine the Islamic system amid heightened domestic unrest and renewed talks with the United States, Financial Times reported.

Axar.az reports that among those detained are Azar Mansouri, head of the Reformist Front, former deputy foreign minister Mohsen Aminzadeh, and veteran politician Ebrahim Asgharzadeh.

Authorities claim the detainees coordinated with hostile foreign actors and sought to destabilize national unity.

The arrests come weeks after Iran’s deadliest protests in years, which have left thousands dead according to human rights groups. The crackdown has intensified internal pressure on the government, prompting reformists to demand accountability and openly question the possibility of reform within the current political system.

Tensions are further strained by ongoing US-Iran negotiations, as Washington weighs military options while demanding sweeping concessions on Iran’s nuclear, missile, and regional policies. Tehran has rejected these demands, insisting it will not relinquish domestic uranium enrichment. Analysts warn that the arrests may deepen political fractures at a critical moment for Iran’s internal stability and foreign relations.