Not President Pezeshkian, but Iran's Revolutionary Guards now ruling war-ravaged nation?

ruleCalling it a 'complete political deadlock', the mounting tensions between Iran President Masoud Pezeshkian and the Iran Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) came to a pass on Wednesday with IRGC taking de facto control over key state functions.

According to Iran International, insiders said that IRGC has sidelined the government from executive control by blocking  presidential appointments and decisions. They have also tightened their hold around the central power structure by erecting a security perimeter around the core of power.

Appointment of Intelligence minister

 Sources with knowledge of the situation told Iran International that Pezeshkian's efforts to appoint a new intelligence minister collapsed after the IRGC's chief commander Ahmad Vahidi interfered in the process.

Iran's political structure dictates that the intelligence minister should be nominated by the President only after attaining approval from the Supreme Leader. However, the current whereabouts and conditions of Mojtaba Khamenei remain unknown.

This has paved way for IRGC to take control of Iran. According to Iran International, IRGC's chief commander insisted that IRGC must manage all all critical and sensitive leadership positions from now on owing to the current war.

Security around Mojtaba Khamenei

The article also reports that Mojtaba Khamenei now finds himself surrounded a tight circle of security, with senior IRGC officials dominating core decision-making. This security cordon has also blocked government reports on the country’s situation from reaching him.

Pezeshkian even tried to get a meeting with Mojtaba Khamenei, but his efforts bore no fruit as all requests went unanswered, with no contact established.

Speculations abound regarding Khamenei's health and status which may be the reason behind the current power shuffle.

Last month, United States and Israel launched a scathing attack on Iran in a bid to dismantle their nuclear infrastructure. This attack claimed the life of their then Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran in turn retaliated by attacking US bases in West Asian nations like UAE, Bahrain and Qatar.