Arab Times reported that President Masoud Pezeshkian stated he remains fully coordinated with Iran’s military forces and has no intention of stepping down. «We are fully coordinated with the military forces. I will not resign, and I will stand firm,» Pezeshkian said in the interview preview according to the publication. He added that any decision to leave office would be announced formally. The remarks follow a series of unverified reports about internal rifts that have circulated since the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in an Israeli airstrike on February 28, 2026, a development CNN documented in its coverage of the ensuing power dynamics.[[1]](https://www.cnn.com/2026/06/12/middleeast/irans-accidental-president-masoud-pezeshkian-intl)
According to Arab Times, senior cleric Mohammad-Bagher Kharrazi, whose sister is married to a brother of the Khamenei family, claimed that Pezeshkian had threatened to resign 28 times before receiving a warning from Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Kharrazi stated that Mojtaba Khamenei indicated any further resignation attempt by the president would be accepted immediately, causing Pezeshkian to back down. The Critical Threats Project assessment released on August 3, 2026 noted that Kharrazi provided no evidence to support his assertions and does not appear to hold significant influence over regime decision-making, although his familial connections drew attention to the remarks.[[2]](https://www.criticalthreats.org/analysis/iran-update-special-report-august-3-2026)
Allies of the president dismissed Kharrazi’s account as baseless and motivated by a desire to sow division, the Arab Times article indicated. Mehdi Tabatabaei described the claims as «baseless» and accused opponents of attempting to create rifts within the leadership. Ali-Asghar Shafieian added that Kharrazi has no direct connection with the supreme leader and is known for making controversial statements. These rebuttals echo earlier official denials of similar reports that first surfaced in late May 2026.
Iran International reported on May 31, 2026 that Pezeshkian had submitted a resignation letter citing exclusion from major decisions by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, a claim that Iranian state media rejected as «rumour-mongering» by foreign outlets. France 24 noted on June 1, 2026 that Tehran called the reports «wishful thinking in place of reality» while the ABC detailed how the story emerged amid a turbulent period following Khamenei’s death and a war with the United States and Israel. The Critical Threats Project observed that four senior Iranian officials had told the New York Times in early July that Pezeshkian previously leveraged resignation threats to influence policy on a U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding.[[3]](https://www.iranintl.com/en/202605312204)
Kharrazi further alleged that Mojtaba Khamenei intends to replace Supreme National Security Council Secretary Mohammad-Bagher Zolghadr with former IRGC Commander Major General Mohsen Rezaei, according to the Arab Times account drawn from the cleric’s statements. The Institute for the Study of War analysis on August 3, 2026 indicated Rezaei was appointed as one of Mojtaba Khamenei’s military advisers in March, one of only three such political appointments the new supreme leader has made. Tabnak, an outlet affiliated with Rezaei, recirculated the claim, the assessment added. No official confirmation of any replacement has been issued by Iranian authorities.
Pezeshkian, who assumed the presidency in 2024 as a relative moderate, has faced criticism from hardliners over perceived concessions in foreign and security policy, a pattern that intensified after the leadership transition. CNN reported on June 12, 2026 that the president’s role has become less central as the IRGC consolidates influence in the post-Khamenei era. The president maintains he enjoys broad support, while critics continue to question the extent of his authority amid the reported power struggles. The latest exchange of statements underscores ongoing uncertainties within Iran’s governing institutions.
Добавить комментарий