US Media: Internal Divisions in Iran Are Jeopardizing Peace Talks

Jin10 Data, June 30—According to the Wall Street Journal, informed officials have revealed that internal power struggles within Iran are threatening US-Iran peace talks: civilian leaders are seeking to unfreeze tens of billions of dollars in assets, while hardline military officials are trying to secure control of the Strait of Hormuz. The civilian leadership, led by Iranian President Pezeshkian, aims to unfreeze billions of dollars to ease the hardships faced by millions of Iranians. However, other forces within Iran—where the Revolutionary Guard currently holds sway—have different plans. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard intends to keep full control of this critical strait at all costs and plans to set up a highly profitable toll-charging mechanism that would both strengthen the armed forces’ finances and dominate the region’s overall security situation. The Iranian Revolutionary Guard has told the mediators that if it cannot obtain assurances in the Doha talks that Iran has exclusive control over the Strait of Hormuz, it will close the waterway again. In addition, the organization has demanded that the United States and other countries give up plans to allow ships to pass through waters on the southern side of the strait (near the Oman side).