Internal conflict within Iran between civilian leaders led by President Masoud Pezeshkian and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has grown and threatens US-Iran peace talks, The Wall Street Journal reported on Tuesday, citing officials familiar with the negotiations.
According to the report, Pezeshkian’s priority is revitalizing the Iranian economy, specifically seeking access to the $6 billion in frozen funds held in Qatar, the release of which has been discussed by officials on both sides of the negotiations.
However, the IRGC seems more focused on keeping full control over the Strait of Hormuz, aiming to install a toll system which would enrich Iran’s military capabilities and give Iran further control over the security map of the Middle East. Iranian officials have speculated that such a toll system might generate up to $40 billion a year, the WSJ wrote.
The IRGC has threatened to close the strait again if Iran is not guaranteed to gain full control at the Doha talks, the WSJ cited officials as saying.
It has also demanded that all ships travel along the Iranian routes through the strait.
Senior Iranian clerics have come down hard on the IRGC’s side. Iran’s Assembly of Experts, an advisory body that tends to reflect the view of its supreme leader, stated that the Strait of Hormuz should remain closed unless Israel stopped attacking Lebanon, the WSJ wrote.
Pezeshkian seeks clerics' favor
Pezeshkian has responded by courting senior clerics in Qom, meeting with Ayatollah Shubairi Zanjani, one of Iran’s most senior clerics, to discuss the benefits of securing the frozen funds, according to the report.
Additionally, Pezeshkian said that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei supported the peace agreement.