IRGC chief blocking Iranian FM from making concessions in nuke talks

Hardline commander of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reportedly preventing Iran’s foreign minister from reaching an agreement with US on reopening of Strait of Hormuz, the future of Iran’s uranium stockpile, and the unfreezing of Iranian assets.

By World Israel News Staff

US-Iran negotiations have slowed as the hardline commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has rejected efforts by Iran’s foreign minister to reach a compromise on a possible memorandum of understanding to end the war, reopen the Strait of Hormuz and begin a new round of nuclear talks, according to regional and international reports.

A regional diplomatic source familiar with the talks told Israel Hayom that the two sides remain far from a deal, despite limited progress in recent days.

The source said Washington and Tehran are still divided by “substantial disagreements and inherent mistrust,” with both sides accusing the other of failing to speak with one voice.

The dispute has centered on a possible interim framework that would address the Strait of Hormuz, frozen Iranian funds, the US naval blockade and future nuclear negotiations.

Reuters reported that the proposed framework would include a cessation of hostilities, the reopening of Hormuz, financial relief for Iran and a 60-day period for talks on a broader agreement.

But the emerging understandings have run into resistance from the IRGC, which wields significant power inside the Iranian regime.

According to Israel Hayom, an Iranian official told a Gulf counterpart that US officials had complained about divisions in Tehran, saying understandings reached with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi were later rejected by Ahmad Vahidi, the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

The Iranian official added that Washington had the same problem, claiming that President Donald Trump and other top administration officials have shown less flexibility than US negotiators.

“What we agreed on with their team was initially accepted and then rejected by the president and his extremist ministers,” the Iranian official was quoted as saying, referring to President Donald Trump, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The White House has insisted that reopening Hormuz is not enough without Iranian nuclear commitments.

Israel Hayom reported that Trump, after facing domestic criticism over the emerging framework, instructed US negotiators to restore core American demands as conditions for signing any memorandum.

Rubio has publicly warned that the strategic waterway will be reopened with or without a deal.

“The Strait of Hormuz has to open, one way or the other,” Rubio said.

The talks have been mediated mainly through Qatar and Pakistan.

Reuters reported that Rubio said a deal could take “several days,” while Iran’s Foreign Ministry has acknowledged substantial progress toward a possible 14-point memorandum but said key issues remain unresolved.

One major issue is Iran’s demand for access to billions of dollars in frozen funds held in Qatar.

Iran International reported that Iranian negotiators were demanding the immediate release of $12 billion as a precondition for advancing the memorandum.