“Iran's Revolutionary Guard has evolved from a theocratic wartime force into a dominant military-economic power.”

“Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) appears to have seized control of the country's key decision-making process with its hardline approach, by answering only to the supreme leader and overruling the civilian leaders, operating with growing autonomy amid a pause in the ongoing Iran war.”

“IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi is now reportedly making military and political decisions alongside Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, according to the Washington-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) and US intelligence assessments.”

“Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf — who led the first round of negotiations with the US in Islamabad and was singled out by US President Donald Trump halfway into the war as Washington's interlocutor — and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi cannot make decisions without the IRGC's approval, according to the reports.”

“Vahidi has already hinted at holding key levers of power, stating that under wartime conditions, all critical positions must be chosen and managed directly by the Revolutionary Guards, according to Iran International media outlet.”

“President Masoud Pezeshkian has seemingly been blocked from key decisions.”

“On 25 March, he was forced to appoint Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr as secretary of the Supreme National Security Council after IRGC commanders, particularly Vahidi, demanded it, reports claim.”

“The appointment came after the killing of Zolghadr's predecessor and Tehran's longtime powerbroker Ali Larijani and despite objections from civilian officials.”