21/05/2026
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21/05/2026
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TEHRAN, May 21: A hardline Iranian military figure is believed to be playing a central role in shaping Tehran’s negotiating stance as talks with the United States remain uncertain, according to analysts, amid ongoing regional tensions and shifting political dynamics within Iran’s leadership.
Brigadier General Ahmad Vahidi, who heads Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), is reportedly emerging as a key decision-maker in formulating Iran’s position in potential negotiations aimed at ending hostilities with the United States and Israel. Analysts cited by the Washington-based Institute for the Study of War say Vahidi is part of a small inner circle believed to be in close contact with Iran’s leadership structure, which has faced internal strain following recent escalations in the conflict.
According to the same assessments, Vahidi—who was elevated to a senior command position this year following the reported killing of his predecessor—now oversees one of Iran’s most influential military institutions. The IRGC controls ballistic missile capabilities and maritime units that operate in strategic waterways, including the Persian Gulf, giving it significant leverage in both military and political calculations.
The Institute for the Study of War noted that Vahidi and his close associates may have consolidated influence not only over Iran’s military response but also over aspects of its negotiation strategy. However, these claims are based on external analysis and have not been independently confirmed by Iranian authorities.
Meanwhile, in a separate diplomatic development, Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi held talks with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in Tehran on Thursday, according to Iranian state media. The discussions come as regional diplomacy continues alongside heightened geopolitical tensions.
