▲ Ahmad Vahidi, Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC
Ahmad Vahidi, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and a representative figure of Iran's hardliners, has become the final "stumbling block" in the ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
Commander Vahidi, who was appointed following the death of his predecessor in a joint U.S.-Israeli airstrike, is known for opposing negotiations with the U.S. and leading the hardline stance against Washington within Iran.
In fact, the WSJ reported that since taking office, Vahidi has clashed with "moderates" such as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, successfully pushing the hardline agenda at every major juncture.
It is reported that Vahidi personally persuaded Iran's Supreme National Security Council to approve the attack when Iran launched its first strike on Israeli soil since the ceasefire on June 7.
Sources also stated that it was Vahidi who linked the war in Lebanon to the war in Iran and set the cessation of Israeli attacks on Lebanon as a condition for ending the war with the U.S.
The position held by Vahidi and other hardliners is that Iran must hold out as long as possible until its demands are met, while strengthening its negotiating leverage through military deterrence.
Vahidi previously served as the first commander of the Quds Force, an elite unit of the IRGC, and held positions including Minister of Interior and Minister of Defense before being appointed as the Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC this past March.
During his tenure as Minister of Interior in 2022, he personally led the violent crackdown on anti-government protests.
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.