The leading all-powerful players on the Iran internal chessboard are jostling for position as the US naval blockade is stinging and they’re looking to each enforce their own line in peace negotiations, with President Pezeskian seemingly planning to remove foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, believing him to be a pawn of the Revolutionary Guards, who seek the top echelon of Iranian power.
According to at least two sources cited by Iran International, President Pezeskian and House Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf are accusing Araghchi of following Revolutionary Guards instructions in talks with the US over the Iranian nuclear programme, without consulting with the Presidency first.
The same sources claim that over the past few weeks, the foreign minister has abandoned the government line and is acting more like an associate of Revolutionary Guards Commander Ahmad Vahidi, not briefing President Pezeskian on what is transpiring in talks with the Americans. Instead he is liaising with Vahidi and essentially following instructions.
According to Iran International, Pezeskian is fuming over his sidelining and has told associates that he is considering the removal of Araghchi should the same tactics continue.
President Trump previously claimed that the US has caused deep leadership divisions in Iran and this was actually why Tehran agreed to extending the ceasefire.
The Iranian leadership has rejected this assumption and sent a message of political will to resume negotiations on the condition that the naval blockade is lifted.
Tensions at the heart of upper Iranian echelons are not new, according to a number of international Iranian outlets operating outside the country.
March 28th saw major policy disagreements between Pezeskian and commander Vahidi focusing on how the war is conducted and repercussions on the economy and citizens living standards.
A few days later there were reports that Pezeskian had been politically isolated and stripped of most powers, including the authority to appoint replacements for government members killed during the war.
According to the same reports, Vahidi had stepped forward, instructing that all highly sensitive administrative positions will be directly controlled by the Revolutionary Guards.
Earlier this week meanwhile, a group of hardline MPs refused to sign a petition of support to the Iranian negotiating team led by Ghalibaf, despite being adopted by 261 parliamentarians.
Three days prior to the statement being made public, there were reports that Ghalibaf had tendered his resignation as head of the talks with the US, as he was strongly critisised on his efforts to bring the nuclear programme into the state of play with Washington.
Araghchi seemingly attempted to take over and subsequently travelled to Islamabad on his own a week ago, submitting the positions of the Iranian side, summarily rejected by Trump, who is now also towing a tough naval blockade line.