A chilling power shift is underway in Iran, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) increasingly seizing control of the nation’s key functions. Recent reports suggest a deliberate tightening of the IRGC’s grip, moving beyond decades of growing influence to a point of overt dominance.
President Masoud Pezeshkian’s attempts to form a government are reportedly stalled, locked in a “complete political deadlock” as tensions escalate with the military leadership. His efforts to appoint an intelligence minister have been directly thwarted by IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi, who rejected all proposed candidates.
The situation has become so acute that a “security cordon” has reportedly been established around Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the Supreme Leader, effectively isolating him. Access to the center of power is now controlled by a “military council” comprised of senior IRGC officers, preventing direct communication between the elected government and the highest levels of leadership.
This isn’t viewed as a sudden coup, but rather the culmination of a long-term trend. For years, Iran has prioritized conflict over cooperation, steadily empowering its security forces. The IRGC’s expansion into politics, the economy, and national security has been relentless.
The rejection of potential intelligence ministers underscores the IRGC’s uncompromising stance. Vahidi insisted that, given current “wartime conditions,” all critical positions must be filled and managed directly by the Revolutionary Guard – a move considered radical even within the regime’s hardline circles.
Adding to the complexity, a power struggle is brewing within the Supreme Leader’s inner circle. Ali Asghar Hejazi, a powerful security official, is facing pressure from associates of Mojtaba Khamenei due to his opposition to a hereditary succession. Hejazi reportedly warned that placing Mojtaba in power would effectively surrender the country to the IRGC and marginalize civilian institutions.
Hejazi’s warnings now appear prophetic. The IRGC, born from the 1979 Islamic Revolution, has evolved into far more than a military force. It controls vast economic sectors, oversees Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, and wields influence across nearly all government branches.
Analysts believe this shift signals a dangerous escalation. A more powerful IRGC likely means a more confrontational Iran, less willing to negotiate and more inclined towards regional escalation. The question now is not just who is making decisions in Iran, but whether any civilian voice can still be heard.
While President Pezeshkian was elected on promises of moderation, he has consistently faced constraints from the security establishment and clerical leadership. The current situation represents a dramatic intensification of that dynamic, occurring amidst growing external pressures and internal uncertainties.
The IRGC is no longer operating from the shadows. It is openly emerging as the dominant force in Tehran, fundamentally altering the balance of power within the Iranian regime and potentially reshaping its trajectory on the world stage.
