War-Hungry Revolutionary Guard Maintains its Grip on Iran as US Holds to Fragile Cease-Fire

An ugly internal power struggle in Iran is muddying mediation talks with the US, as pro-war and pro-deal factions battle it out over whether Tehran should ever surrender, sources familiar with mediation efforts tell The Post.

Though Iran’s political elites — including its president, foreign minister and parliamentary speaker — have been at the center of efforts to hammer out peace terms, regional sources told The Post that it’s Iran’s military leadership that ultimately has the power to accept or reject any agreement.

“One faction there right now is at its highest point ever in its history — the IRGC,” a source told The Post. “The nationalist feeling (that comes with war) gives them the highest pedestal.”

As a military force, the IRGC’s power surges in times of conflict — and with the group at the helm, some within Tehran have an interest in seeing the war continue, sources familiar with the negotiations told The Post this week.

The split helps explain why Iran has repeatedly tested US patience — launching attacks that provoke American retaliation without fully shattering the fragile cease-fire. (Read more from “War-Hungry Revolutionary Guard Maintains its Grip on Iran as US Holds to Fragile Cease-Fire” HERE)