Iranian Leaders Seek Removal of Foreign Minister Over IRGC Ties

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.

Nabavian was part of the Iranian delegation led by Ghalibaf in the first round of Islamabad talks with the United States. Three days before the statement, Ghalibaf resigned as head of the negotiating team after being reprimanded over efforts to include the nuclear energy issue in talks.

Araghchi visited Islamabad on April 24 alone to deliver Tehran's proposal, which was later rejected by the US president according to media reports. Araghchi had sought to take over leadership of the negotiations following Ghalibaf's departure.

Australia condemned the Iranian government's acts of violence and intimidation, including an internet shutdown to conceal brutality, a foreign ministry spokesperson stated on Thursday. Australia expelled Iran's ambassador and three diplomats in August 2025 over Iran-directed attacks and has sanctioned more than 220 Iran-linked people and entities.

It designated the Islamic Revolutionary Guards as a state sponsor of terrorism and suspended embassy operations in Tehran. New Zealand's foreign ministry stated on Thursday that Iranians have the right to peaceful protest, freedom of expression, and access to information.

" — Nematollah Izadi, Iran's first ambassador to the Russian Federation, in an interview with Shargh daily. Nematollah Izadi, Iran's first ambassador to the Russian Federation, criticized Russia's inaction in interviews with Shargh daily and ILNA news agency.

He stated Russia had the capacity to do more and possibly prevent the war but showed restrained response possibly due to self-interest, including higher oil revenues and diversion of attention from Ukraine. Izadi described Russia's lack of support as unacceptable given the war's scale in its neighborhood.

Araghchi traveled to Russia this week and met President Vladimir Putin. Araghchi described ties as a strategic partnership at the highest level and aimed to exchange views on recent developments. Putin stated Moscow would assist Iran and noted receiving a message from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei the previous week.