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Iranian Lawmakers Call for Removal of Foreign Minister Over Alleged IRGC Ties
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf are reportedly pushing for the removal of Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, accusing him of prioritizing instructions from IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi in nuclear talks. Sources indicate Araghchi acted without informing the president, amid broader tensions in Iran's leadership.
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They accuse Araghchi of following directives from Ahmad Vahidi, the commander of the Revolutionary Guards, during nuclear talks without informing the president. This has led to deep dissatisfaction, with Pezeshkian stating he would dismiss Araghchi if the behavior continues.
The sources reported that Araghchi has acted in recent weeks more as an aide to Vahidi than as a cabinet minister implementing government policy. Over the past two weeks, Araghchi coordinated fully with Vahidi based on his instructions, bypassing Pezeshkian.
Reports of divisions among Iranian officials emerged earlier.
On March 28, serious disagreements arose between Pezeshkian and Vahidi over handling the war and its economic consequences. Informed sources noted the dispute focused on the war's impact on livelihoods and the economy. Three days later, on March 31, Pezeshkian expressed frustration at being in a complete political deadlock.
He had been stripped of authority to appoint replacements for government officials killed during the war. Vahidi declared that due to the critical wartime situation, all key managerial posts would be selected and run by the Revolutionary Guards until further notice.
27, a group of lawmakers aligned with hardline politician Saeed Jalili declined to sign a parliamentary statement backing Iran's negotiating team led by Ghalibaf. The statement received support from 261 other MPs but was not signed by prominent hardliners including Mahmoud Nabavian, Mohammad Taghi Naqadali, Morteza Aghatehrani, Amirhossein Sabeti, Hamid Rasaei, Ruhollah Izadkhah, and Meysam Zohourian.
