Iran’s Civilian, Military Leaders Divided Over Nation’s Direction

A widening divide between Iran’s civilian government and powerful hardline factions is exposing competing visions for the country’s future as leaders grapple with continued military tensions and international pressure.

President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf are continuing to advocate for diplomacy and maintaining contacts with the United States, but their efforts are facing growing resistance from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, and conservative lawmakers who favor a more confrontational approach. The internal struggle has intensified as Iran’s political leadership attempts to recover from months of conflict that have strained the country’s military and economy.

The limited public role of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has left rival factions with greater latitude to compete for influence over national security and foreign policy. As that competition has intensified, the IRGC has assumed a more prominent role in shaping Iran’s response to regional developments. Military leaders and their allies in parliament have pushed policies emphasizing military strength and resistance to Western pressure, while civilian officials have continued to argue that diplomacy remains necessary to prevent a broader conflict.