IRGC hardliners in control of Iran’s military and diplomacy, moderates sidelined, says report
It is claimed that the Commander of the Revolutionary Guards, Major General Ahmed Vahidi, and his close circle assumed the leadership of the Islamic Republic. This internal power shift is further emphasized by recent naval clashes in the Strait of Hormuz and Tehran’s decision to bypass planned peace talks with the United States.
Catch live updates of the US-Israel war here
The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) stated that this transition indicates that more moderate figures such as Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are being pushed aside. Although Araghchi tentatively agreed to reopen the strategic waterway following talks with the Trump administration, the Revolutionary Guard rejected the move, insisting that the strait remains closed in response to the American blockade of Iranian ports.
The New York Post reported that Vahidi received significant support from Iranian Revolutionary Guard veteran and current Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohammed Bagher Zolghadr. This alliance has solidified Vahidi’s authority over the choke point, where fast attack ships now make up the bulk of Iran’s naval presence after conventional forces suffered heavy losses in recent conflicts.
Tensions escalated over the weekend after Iran targeted at least three ships trying to pass through the strait. The move left hundreds of ships stranded in the Persian Gulf and reinforced the Revolutionary Guard’s message that the oil route remains under a tight blockade.
Also read: US seizes Iranian cargo ship, Tehran vows retaliation The impact of the Vahidi-Zolghadr partnership extends directly to the diplomatic arena. Earlier this month, Zolghadr was integrated into the Iranian delegation, specifically to ensure compliance with the duties of the Revolutionary Guard and Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
According to The New York Post, ISW highlighted internal friction within the panel. “Zolghadr almost certainly made a complaint to senior Revolutionary Guard leaders, including Vahidi, that Araghchi had overstepped his authority by expressing flexibility regarding Iran’s support for the Axis of Resistance during the negotiations,” the think tank said. he said.
This internal dissent reportedly triggered a broader crackdown. “Zolghadr’s anger prompted senior leaders in Tehran, including Hossein Taeb, former Revolutionary Guards Intelligence Service Chief and long-time member of Mojtaba’s inner circle, to recall the negotiating team to Tehran,” ISW reported. he added.
The New York Post’s report also suggests that Vahidi has emerged as the primary decision-maker alongside Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not appeared in public since being injured in airstrikes that killed his predecessor.
Also read: Pakistan juggles power outages and Iran diplomacy
This hierarchy effectively places the IRGC above officials such as Araghchi and Parliamentary leader Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. Although both have used anti-Western rhetoric, they are seen as moderate compared to the current military rule.
ISW notes that this power dynamic severely hinders meaningful interaction with the West, as Araghchi and Ghalibaf lack “the power or formal executive authority to shape decision-making.”
The New York Post emphasized that these developments also challenge Washington’s claims that the Iranian regime has been reformed following the loss of senior officials during the war.
The stability of the region remains uncertain as no timetable has been set for the resumption of negotiations. It has not yet been determined whether the current, fragile ceasefire will be maintained beyond Tuesday’s deadline.
