The speculations regarding internal tensions within the Iranian leadership continue to grow with a new report alleging that President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf are seeking the removal of Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Iran International has reported that the two leaders have accused Araghchi of ignoring the presidency to follow orders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) on nuclear talks with the United States in Islamabad.
Sources told the outlet that the President and Speaker believe Araghchi sidelined them over the last two weeks, acting more as an aide to IRGC Commander Ahmad Vahidi and less as a cabinet minister. The report claims that the Foreign Minister had been acting on Vahidi’s instructions and did not keep the President in the loop. Pezeshkian reportedly told his associates he would remove Araghchi from the office if the behaviour continues.
Iran is yet to release an official statement on the matter.
There had been previous reports of divisions within the administration which was disputed by Iran. Iran International reported a disagreement between Pezeshkian and Vahidi on 28 March, with sources claiming there was a rift in “the handling of the war and its destructive consequences for people’s livelihoods annd the country’s economy”.
The alleged leadership crisis was a point of contention in the talks between the United States and Iran over extending the temporary ceasefire into a permanent one.
Israel Hayon reported on April 15 that the US officials were frustrated that the Iranian delegation that came to Islamabad didn’t have full authority to make a deal.
Ahmad Vahidi, and another senior Revolutionary Guards official Ali Abdollahi, reportedly did not allow the delegation in Pakistan to give answers to the United States. The report said Pezeshkian subsequently demanded Ghalibaf to take a stand and “save Iran from total economic collapse”.
