Iran's new IRGC commander seen as last obstacle to war-end negotiations

Ahmad Vahidi, commander of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, is driving a hard-line stance against the United States and has become the last major obstacle to war-end negotiations between the two countries, The Wall Street Journal reported Saturday.

Appointed after his predecessor was killed in US and Israeli airstrikes, Vahidi has repeatedly clashed with moderate figures including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, pushing through hard-line positions at key junctures in the talks.

He personally persuaded Iran's Supreme National Security Council to approve the country's first strike on Israeli territory since the truce, which took place June 7.

Sources said Vahidi was also behind the decision to link the Lebanon war to the broader conflict with Iran and to make a halt to Israeli attacks on Lebanon a condition for any war-end deal with the United States.

Vahidi and other hard-liners argue that Iran should hold out until its demands are met, using military deterrence to strengthen its negotiating hand.