The accusation of fostering political ‘polarization’ in society, leveled against Iran’s hardliner Kayhan newspaper by an influential politician and cleric, has deeply angered ultra-hardliners.

In a sermon on Wednesday, hardline cleric Alireza Panahian, who has close ties to Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, called on the Speaker to ensure that Parliament passes a law to prevent state-funded newspapers from “polarizing” Iranian society. He urged that such outlets should be shut down.

Panahian's call was especially striking given that Kayhan is backed by the office of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The newspaper’s firebrand editor, Hossein Shariatmadari, serves as Khamenei’s representative, making Panahian's criticism notable within hardline circles.

“Polarization is the fight in our own camp in Iran … in the middle of a full-on war with the enemy,” one of Panahian’s supporters tweeted, insisting that he was reiterating Khamenei’s warnings about divisive politics.

The demand to shut down divisive newspapers, along with the context in which it was presented, infuriated ultra-hardliners. It hinted at a potential political alliance among conservatives against them, a scenario previously considered unlikely. Also, the gathering where the sermon was delivered was attended by President Masoud Pezeshkian and Ghalibaf both of whom had traveled to Mashhad to take part in a religious ceremony.

The new president, advocating for ‘national unity’ as a solution to Iran's challenges, has grown increasingly close to Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf in recent weeks, forming a strategic alliance. Together, they are positioning themselves against ultra-hardliner Saeed Jalili and his supporters in the Paydari Party.

In his sermon a video clip of which has gone viral on social media, Panahian named not only the ultra-hardliner Kayhan, but also Ettela’at and Jomhouri Eslami, two conservative newspapers which are also funded by Khamenei’s office, but unlike Kayhan can even be considered as moderate when it comes to domestic politics.

Of the three newspapers, it was only Kayhan that reacted to Panahian’s sermon. As it was a public holiday, Kayhan protested in a note published on its online portal. Ultra-hardliners also took to social media to defend Kayhan.

Kayhan has for decades been known as a propaganda arm of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei office.

In a note titled "Whose Side Are You Taking, Mr. Panahian," the newspaper accused him of being misled by "certain associates" and repeating "the old demands of the Revolution’s well-known enemies" against Kayhan.”

Kayhan claimed to be “always at the forefront” of ‘Vindication Jihad’ -- to counter criticism and attacks against the Islamic Republic by using “hybrid warfare” as ordered by Khamenei –and compared Panahian’s sermon to “similar propaganda of foreign media against Kayhan.”

"Is defending martyr [Ebrahim] Raisi against the cowardly attacks of so-called reformers considered polarization?" Kayhan asked, while renewing its criticism of Pezeshkian for appointing reformists to his administration. The newspaper emphasized that Khamenei has repeatedly warned, over the past two months, against employing "people of ill-repute" and those "out of touch with the Revolution." Kayhan insisted that Pezeshkian's inclusion of such figures in his government undermines the values of the Islamic Republic.

Mohammad Imani, a Kayhan columnist, took to Telegram separately to defend his newspaper against Panahian whom he said had “shot compatriots instead of the enemy.” He, too, accused Panahian of providing ammunition to the opposition media with his accusations against Kayhan.

Ghalibaf’s adviser, Mohammad-Saeed Ahadian, defended Panahian in a Telegram post, stating that Panahian was merely reiterating Khamenei’s warnings about the dangers of "polarization." Ahadian also criticized Kayhan, accusing it of targeting figures like Ghalibaf who support the Pezeshkian government, rather than challenging Khamenei's positions directly. He argued that opposing the Leader's explicit wishes is "costly," suggesting that Kayhan avoids confronting Khamenei's stance while attacking those aligned with his broader message.

An editorial in the reformist Shargh newspaper on Saturday argued that the attacks on Panahian and Ghalibaf are not about their past or current statements. Instead, it contended that powerful ultra-hardliners are frustrated because they can no longer eliminate their political rivals with the support of "certain centers of political power." These hardliners, now in a weakened position, are struggling to maintain their influence and are reacting angrily to the shifting political landscape.