Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian recently released a video denying claims that he intends to step down . He argues these rumors are designed to disrupt ongoing diplomatic talks with the United States.
The 28 rejected resignation attempts
Reports from the independent outlet Iran International suggest a level of instability far greater than the official narrative admits. According to the report, President Masoud Pezeshkian has attempted to resign from his post 28 times, with each request being rejected by the Supreme Leader. This internal friction has reportedly reached a breaking point, with a cleric linked to the leadership, Mohammad-Bagher Kharrazi, suggesting that any future attempt to resign would finally be approved.
This cycle of attempted exits highlights the precarious nature of the Iranian presidency, which remains largely ceremonial. While Masoud Pezeshkian has publicly claimed that his relationship with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is collaborative, the reported resignation attempts suggest a leader who feels trapped between a hardline security apparatus and a Supreme Leader who refuses to let him go.
Mojtaba Khamenei's silence since March
A central mystery in the current Iranian power struggle is the total absence of Mojtaba Khamenei from the public eye. Since ascending to the role of supreme leader in March, following the death of his father, Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba Khamenei has not made a single public appearance or issued any formal statements.. This void has fueled intense speculation regarding his health and ability to govern.
The state-sponsored Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian remarked that an incapacitated person would not hold a government post. This comment is widely viewed as a veiled reference to rumors that Mojtaba Khamenei suffered severe injuries during an airstrike. Whether Mojtaba Khamenei is physically unable to lead or is being shielded by the IRGC remains one of the most critical unverified claims currently surrounding the Tehran administration.
The June memorandum of understanding and internal chaos
Internal conflict within the Iranian government has intensified over a June "memorandum of understanding" signed with the United States. As Iran International reported, officials are currently engaged in a blame game over who authorized the deal, with a faction within the national security apparatus—allegedly led by Mohammad-Bagher Kharrazi—vehemently opposing the agreement.
This divide reflects a broader, long-standing tension in Iran between civilian government officials and the hardline elements of the IRGC. The struggle is not merely over a single document but over the direction of the state. It remains unclear exactly which officials signed the June memorandum or how many members of the security apparatus are actively working to sabotage the negotiations with the U.S.
The fallout from Operation Epic Fury
The current volatility in Tehran is an echo of the chaos triggered by "Operation Epic Fury," the U.S. military campaign designed to weaken the Iranian regime. This campaign led to the death of Ali Khamenei on February 28,creating the power vacuum that allowed Mojtaba Khamenei to take power and Masoud Pezeshkian to enter the presidency following the death of Ebrahim Raisi.
The IRGC has historically used such periods of external pressure to consolidate domestic power. in a letter reportedly sent to the Supreme Leader, Masoud Pezeshkian commplained that the IRGC had prevented him from fulfilling his duties and had sidelined his government from major decision-making processes. This pattern suggests that regardless of who holds the title of president, the IRGC continues to assert primary control over national affairs during times of international crisis.
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