Iranian President Pezeshkian Sent Resignation to Supreme Leader, Says IRGC Has Taken Control of State Power

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has reportedly sent his resignation to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, claiming that the country’s power structure is now effectively under the control of commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

According to a report by Iran International, Pezeshkian stated in his letter that his government has increasingly been excluded from major decisions and that real authority has shifted away from elected institutions. The report claimed that since the outbreak of the conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States earlier this year, the civilian administration has had little role in shaping critical policies, with military leadership exercising growing influence over state affairs.

The report immediately sparked political debate both inside and outside Iran. However, Iranian officials swiftly rejected the claims.

Seyed Mehdi Tabatabaei, Deputy Chief of the Communications and Information Dissemination Department in the President’s Office, dismissed the resignation reports as false. In a post on X, he said Pezeshkian would not step back from serving the Iranian people and described the reports as rumours intended to undermine national unity. He added that just as Iranians would not abandon the path of unity and resistance, the president would continue carrying out his responsibilities.

The controversy comes at a sensitive moment as Iran remains engaged in military confrontations across the region while simultaneously holding discussions with Washington over the future of bilateral relations.

Military Tensions Continue to Escalate

Among the most significant developments of the past 24 hours, Israeli forces reportedly captured the historic 900-year-old Beaufort Castle and the surrounding strategic high ground in southern Lebanon. The operation marks Israel’s deepest military advance into Lebanese territory in 26 years.

The development prompted France to seek an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council. French officials warned that continued Israeli military operations inside Lebanon risk worsening regional instability and could deepen the humanitarian situation on the ground.

Meanwhile, the IRGC claimed it had targeted an airbase allegedly used in operations against Iranian assets. The organisation did not disclose the location of the facility.

At the same time, US Central Command announced strikes on military targets in Iran’s Goruk region and Qeshm Island. Washington said the operation was conducted in self-defence after Iran allegedly shot down an MQ-1 drone operating in international waters. According to CENTCOM, American forces targeted air-defence systems, a ground control station, and two one-way attack drones that were considered threats to maritime traffic.

Regional tensions also spread to Kuwait, where military authorities announced that air-defence units had been activated in response to missile and drone threats. Residents were advised that interception operations could result in loud explosions and were urged to follow official safety instructions.

Lebanon and Hormuz Remain Flashpoints

Diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions in Lebanon continue alongside military activity.

The United States has proposed a new roadmap under which Hezbollah would halt attacks on Israel while Israel would refrain from expanding military operations in Beirut. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has reportedly held separate discussions with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu regarding the proposal.

According to reports, Lebanese Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri indicated that he could guarantee Hezbollah’s commitment to a ceasefire if Israel first halted its military actions.

Separately, Hezbollah claimed that it shot down an Israeli Hermes 450 drone in southern Lebanon and launched rockets and artillery fire at Israeli troops near Yohmor al-Shaqif. Israeli authorities had not publicly responded to those claims at the time of reporting.

Iran-US Talks Continue Despite Distrust

Despite the ongoing military escalation, diplomatic engagement between Tehran and Washington has not stopped.

US President Donald Trump said Iran wants an agreement and expressed confidence that negotiations would eventually produce a positive outcome. He criticised political figures whose public comments, he said, complicate ongoing discussions and urged observers to remain patient.

Iran, however, signalled continued scepticism. Iranian officials stated that no agreement with the United States would be approved until Tehran is fully convinced that its rights and interests are protected.

Iranian parliamentarian Ismail Kowsari said discussions with Washington currently focus on four issues: guarantees against future conflict, compensation for wartime damage, the withdrawal of American forces linked to Hormuz operations and the removal of naval restrictions imposed on Iran. He also claimed that the nuclear issue is no longer part of the current negotiating agenda.

Meanwhile, satellite imagery cited by CNN reportedly showed that Iran has reopened around 50 access routes to underground missile facilities previously targeted in US and Israeli strikes. Analysts believe those sites may contain more than 1,000 missiles and could play a significant role if the regional conflict expands further.

Against this backdrop, the reported resignation of President Pezeshkian has added another layer of uncertainty to an already volatile situation, raising fresh questions about the balance of power inside Iran and the influence wielded by the IRGC during one of the country’s most challenging periods in recent years.