Iran war: Tensions brewing within Iran’s leadership as US ground assault looms; President Pezeshkian, IRGC chief Vahidi clash over…
Iran war: Major tensions are reportedly brewing between Iran’s political and military leadership, with President Masoud Pezeshkian and leaders of the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) differing over several critical points related to the ongoing war, media reports have claimed.
Why Pezeshkian and IRGC are at odds?
According to a report by the Iran International, a London-based Iranian opposition media outlet, differences emerged between Pezeshkian and new IRGC chief Ahmad Vahidi during early days of the conflict, and have now boiled over into a major rift between the political and military leadership in Iran.
The report claimed that Pezeshkian and Vahidi hold opposing positions on the continuation of the war with the United States and Israel, particularly the attacks on Iran’s Gulf neighbours, adding that the Iranian president is “unhappy” with the IRGC’s strategy of attacking neighboring countries, and has warned that this could have a detrimental impact on the Iranian economy in the long run.
What IRGC chief told Pezeshian?
According to the report, Masoud Pezeshkian wants Iran’s civilian government to make executive decisions regarding the war, not the IRGC.
However, Vahidi is adamant that all decisions about how the war is conducted will be taken by IRGC commanders, and purportedly criticised Pezeshkian for failing to implement structural reforms to address problems within the system before the current war began.
The claims of a rift within Iran’s leadership ranks comes at a time when the country is gearing up for a potential ground attack by the US, which would mark a major escalation in the ongoing conflict.
Iran braces for US ground assault
Earlier this week, 3,500 US Marines aboard the USS Tripoli reached the Middle East, marking the entry of one of US’ largest amphibious assault ships (AAS) into an active combat theatre in West Asia from its home base in Japan amid the ongoing conflict.
In a post of X, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the USS Tripoli, carrying US sailors and Marines, arrived in CENTCOM’s Area of Responsibility (AoR) on March 27.
“U.S. Sailors and Marines aboard USS Tripoli (LHA 7) arrived in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, March 27. The America-class amphibious assault ship serves as the flagship for the Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group / 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit composed of about 3,500 Sailors and Marines in addition to transport and strike fighter aircraft, as well as amphibious assault and tactical assets,” it said.