Iran’s Power Struggle: Guards’ Grip on Negotiations Raises Stakes

Iran’s internal power struggle is spilling into its diplomacy with the United States, as the Revolutionary Guards tighten their hold over the country’s negotiating team. The Guards, long known for their military might, now also dictate terms to President Masoud Pezeshkian and his envoys, according to historian Jean-Pierre Filiu in a new column. This dual role—soldier and political enforcer—means Tehran’s negotiators face pressure not just from Washington, but from within their own leadership. Filiu argues that the Guards’ demands go beyond battlefield strategy, shaping the very red lines Iran brings to the table. The result: a fragile path to talks, where any concession risks being seen as weakness by hardliners at home. For U.S. officials, the question is no longer just what Iran wants, but who actually controls the answer.