A source close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps told Channel 14 journalist Dror Blazada that Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has decided that IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi's hardline stance toward the United States is now the regime's official policy. The report says Tehran has concluded that the Americans cannot be trusted and that disagreements between the political camp and the IRGC have lost relevance. The report is based on a single anonymous source and has not been independently verified.
This report, published overnight Monday, provides the most detailed account to date of a reported internal Iranian decision to consolidate power around the IRGC's hardline stance regarding the United States. According to a source cited by Channel 14 journalist Dror Blazada, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has ruled that IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi's line—that the US cannot be trusted and that no concessions should be made—is now the official regime policy.
The development follows a similar report earlier Monday (Aug 3) that Khamenei had decided that the IRGC commander's line is decisive. The new report names Vahidi explicitly and adds that the longstanding disagreements between Iran's political camp and the IRGC have lost their significance, with Khamenei granting Vahidi the final word on all matters relating to dealings with Washington.
The source added that Tehran believes President Donald Trump will not undertake a dramatic move before November, and therefore sees no reason to compromise. Instead, the Iranians intend to continue applying pressure and extracting as much money as possible. Current contact with the US is conducted primarily through messages between Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and American envoys, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, without formal negotiations.
The Zioneer reported earlier this week that a source close to the IRGC had indicated Khamenei's decision to elevate the IRGC line. The new report fills in the details of that decision, specifically naming Vahidi and outlining the strategic calculus behind the hardline approach.
2 developments
- StrongIsraeli security source tells Al-Hadath: Khamenei not in Iran, statements drafted by IRGC commander
- StrongIRGC Quds Force chief Qaani pledges allegiance to Mojtaba Khamenei, vows to continue 'resistance path'
- StrongIRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi vows to teach US 'unforgettable lesson'
- StrongIRGC issues follow-up statement: complete withdrawal from all US talks, file closed permanently
Source and signal
- Open-source intake