New IRGC Commander Emerges as Key Factor in US-Iran Ceasefire Negotiations

Ahmad Vahidi, Commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps [Photo=AP·Yonhap]

Amid the final stages of ceasefire negotiations between the United States and Iran, Ahmad Vahidi, the newly appointed commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), has emerged as a significant variable in the discussions.

According to the Wall Street Journal on June 13, Vahidi is advocating for Iran to maintain its demands during negotiations with the U.S., asserting that the country should not back down until its conditions are met.

Vahidi was appointed following the death of his predecessor in an airstrike by the U.S. and Israel. Since taking command, he has reportedly clashed with relatively moderate political figures, including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, consistently pushing for hardline positions at critical junctures.

The Wall Street Journal noted that the IRGC and its affiliates are viewed as the primary obstacles to a U.S.-Iran agreement, with Vahidi emerging as the most influential figure among Iran's hardliners.

In fact, Vahidi is said to have successfully persuaded Iran's Supreme National Security Council to approve an attack on Israeli territory, marking the first such assault since the ceasefire.

Sources indicate that Vahidi has also linked the Lebanon front to the U.S. negotiations, insisting that Israel must cease its attacks on the pro-Iranian militant group Hezbollah in Lebanon for an agreement with the U.S. to be feasible.

Vahidi and other hardliners believe that Iran must restore its military deterrence to gain leverage at the negotiating table. He has pressured the negotiating team to ensure the protection of Iran's missile capabilities and access to frozen funds abroad, arguing that military spending should not be restricted.

A founding member of the IRGC, Vahidi previously served as the first commander of the Quds Force, the elite unit of the IRGC. He has since held various positions, including Minister of Defense and Minister of Interior, expanding his influence in Iran's security and military sectors.

Vahidi has been sanctioned by the U.S. for his involvement in Iran's missile, drone, and nuclear programs, and he led the violent suppression of anti-government protests during his tenure as Minister of Interior in 2022.

* This article has been translated by AI.