Iranian leadership divided as hard-liners sabotage negotiations, Khameni still unseen - report

A New York Times report reveals deep divisions within Iranian leadership, with hard-liners sabotaging US negotiations amid the absence of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen since March. The July strikes on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz were ordered without authorization from President Pezeshkian or the IRGC commander, highlighting the power struggle.

A New York Times report, citing five Iranian officials and two IRGC members, details a power struggle within Iran's leadership. Hard-liners sabotaged negotiations with the US, exemplified by the July strikes on three commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, which were ordered without the knowledge or authorization of President Masoud Pezeshkian, the IRGC commander, or the Supreme National Security Council. The report highlights the absence of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen since his appointment in March. While written statements have been issued in his name, many, including Pezeshkian, doubt their veracity. Pezeshkian claimed a meeting in May, but officials described a setup where an ambulance with blacked-out windows drove him around for a secure video call with a purported Khamenei interlocutor. Hard-liners, led by spymaster Hossein Taeb, who was recently appointed head of the Basij militia, pushed for escalating the conflict, presenting a war plan involving Iran and allied groups. Pezeshkian and Speaker Mohammad Bagher-Ghalibaf warned of economic disaster. As of last Saturday, the hardliners gained the upper hand.