Iran’s Revolutionary Guard sidelines president as military grip expands
Fox News • • nation
Key Points:
- Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has blocked President Masoud Pezeshkian’s presidential appointments and established a security cordon around Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, effectively taking control over key state functions.
- The IRGC’s increased power signals a shift toward a more confrontational Iran, potentially undermining U.S.-Iran negotiations and reducing the influence of civilian officials in decision-making.
- IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi has rejected Pezeshkian’s proposed intelligence ministers, asserting that critical positions must be controlled by the Revolutionary Guard under wartime conditions.
- A "military council" of senior IRGC officers now controls access to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, isolating him from the elected government and limiting President Pezeshkian’s ability to govern.
- The rise of the IRGC reflects a long-term trend of expanding military influence over Iran’s politics, economy, and security, with analysts warning this consolidation could sideline civilian institutions permanently.
