According to the Islamic Republic News Agency, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf are demanding the resignation of Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, accusing him of acting on directives from Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Hossein Salami without authorization from Iran's political leadership during negotiations with the United States.
As reported by multiple media outlets, the demand by President Pezeshkian and Speaker Ghalibaf for Foreign Minister Araghchi’s resignation marks a landmark moment in the public escalation of internal power struggles within Iran. This is not merely a routine personnel change—it reflects a profound conflict between two major power structures in the country: the civilian government and the Revolutionary Guard, over who should control the nation’s foreign policy direction.
A defining incident dramatically intensified the tensions. Foreign Minister Araghchi had reached preliminary consensus with U.S. officials on opening maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, attempting to send a signal of de-escalation. However, the IRGC Navy immediately publicly rejected this decision and opened fire on vessels attempting to pass through, declaring that no ships would be allowed to transit.
This move rendered the foreign minister’s commitment meaningless and clearly demonstrated to the outside world: when it comes to decisions involving core national interests, the Revolutionary Guard holds greater authority than the elected government in Iran.
Iran’s unique political system inherently features a "dual power structure" — a civilian government coexisting with an unelected Revolutionary Guard. Under peacetime conditions, such contradictions may be manageable; but under intense external pressure—such as war or sanctions—the Revolutionary Guard, which controls the "guns," naturally demands dominance over national policymaking, leading to increasingly fierce clashes with the civilian administration.
In summary, the call for the foreign minister’s resignation is merely surface-level. Its essence lies in an underlying ideological struggle within Iran over the nation’s future path—whether to pursue confrontation or dialogue. The outcome of this struggle will directly determine the trajectory of U.S.-Iran negotiations and the future of the Middle East region.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1864013870504960/
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