IRGC Assumes De Facto Control Of Iranian Government Amid Deepening Middle East Conflict
New York : US President Donald Trump asserted that negotiations to end the Iran war were on with leaders who are more moderate and more reasonable. Iran has denied it. It has raised questions about who is in charge in Iran. Such is the situation that Pezeshkian, known as a moderate leader, has been pushed into a complete political deadlock. The IRGC, which is carrying out Iran’s military response to US attacks, is now in control of key state functions, sources told Iran International.
Days into the war, Ali Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, was named as the Supreme Leader. However, Mojtaba has not been seen or heard from since. Messages from the Supreme Leader have only been read out on live TV. It has led to speculation that Mojtaba may have died. Latest reports, however, claim the Supreme Leader was likely in a coma. Trump has suggested that Mojtaba might be in a critical condition, while US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth asserted that he was “disfigured”.
In fact, the IRGC has established a strict security cordon around Mojtaba. Even government reports on the country’s situation are prevented from reaching him, the report said. Sources also said that the Iranian president’s repeated requests to the IRGC for a meeting with the Supreme Leader have been ignored. Pezeshkian’s move to appoint Hossein Dehghan as intelligence minister failed after pressure from IRGC chief commander Ahmad Vahidi.
Vahidi reportedly insisted that all vital and sensitive leadership positions should be selected and managed directly by the IRGC amid the conflict. This is a departure from the traditional system, where presidents have nominated intelligence ministers after securing the approval of the Supreme Leader. Murmurs of a rift between the IRGC and the president have been there since last week. Pezeshkian was upset with the IRGC’s approach of escalating tensions in the region by continuing to target neighbouring Gulf countries.
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