CNN reported Friday evening that senior officials fear the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has stable control over Iran's decision-making process, rendering the Iranian representatives the US has been negotiating with unauthorized to sign agreements. The report corroborates an earlier anonymous Trump administration official's statement to CNN.
CNN reported Friday evening that senior officials — likely within the U.S. administration — fear the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) maintains stable control over Iran's decision-making process, effectively stripping the Iranian representatives with whom the United States has been negotiating of the authority to sign any agreement. The report, attributed to multiple senior officials, reflects a deepening concern that the diplomatic track with Iran may be undermined by the IRGC's internal dominance.
The assessment follows a similar statement an anonymous Trump administration official made to CNN earlier Friday, as The Zioneer reported, that the IRGC holds absolute control over Iran's decision-making and that the Iranian officials President Trump is speaking with are not authorized to sign deals. The official added that the conflict would continue and intensify. The new report, citing multiple senior officials, suggests a broader consensus within the administration or intelligence community.
The IRGC is Iran's primary ideological military and political force, which The Zioneer has documented as having transitioned from proxy-based attrition to direct kinetic engagement with the United States and Israel in mid-2026. The organization has repeatedly asserted its role as the guardian of the regime's core principles, and its influence over both domestic and foreign policy is widely acknowledged. The current report highlights the challenge the U.S. faces in negotiating with Iranian representatives who may not be empowered to deliver on commitments.
The report does not name the specific officials or provide additional details on the nature of the IRGC's control. The United States and Iran have been engaged in indirect talks reportedly mediated by third parties, but the IRGC's stance has complicated progress.
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Source and signal
- Open-source intake