How Iran's Hard-Liners and Covert Operations Sabotaged the US Peace Deal
Covert attacks by Iranian hard-liners on commercial vessels in the Strait of Mudmuz undermined the peace agreement reached with Washington, sparking a major political crisis within the country's leadership.
Influential members of Iran's hard-line faction and a covert group targeted commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz in an effort to sabotage the peace agreement reached with the United States. These attacks, carried out in July and resulting in the burning of a Qatari LNG tanker, drew strong reactions from President Masoud Pezeshkian, deeply shaking the Tehran administration and dragging the two countries back into a conflict environment.
Attacks in the Strait of Hormuz and Pezeshkian's Reaction
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, who signed a peace agreement with the US in early July, was soon shaken by news that military forces had opened fire on three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. During the attacks, a Qatari LNG tanker caught fire while other ships sustained damage.
Angered by the situation, Pezeshkian called Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Commander General Ahmed Vahidi to criticize the actions. Vahidi stated that he had no prior knowledge of the operation and did not give any orders.
Upheaval in Iranian Domestic Politics
Upon returning to Tehran following the attacks, President Pezeshkian witnessed the two countries being dragged back into war as the US responded with airstrikes. This development led to heated debates and threats of resignation within the Iranian administration.
These deep divisions within the government resulted in personnel changes in the National Security Council, further strengthening the position of hard-line factions in the country.
The Figure Behind the Covert Operation: Hossein Taeb
Investigations by the government and security forces revealed that former intelligence chief and cleric Hossein Taeb was behind the decision to target commercial vessels. Taeb had opposed the peace deal with the US from the very beginning.
Appointed as the head of the Basij militia by the new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, Taeb played a key role in these covert operations aimed at dimming the future of the agreement reached with the US.
The Enigmatic Supreme Leader and Uncertainties
The fact that the new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei—who has the authority to resolve internal disputes in Iranian politics—has not appeared in public since March is fueling speculation. The leader's health status and level of participation in decisions create question marks.
Although President Pezeshkian stated that he met with the Supreme Leader, the suspicious conditions under which the meetings took place and the unknown true status of the leader deepen the vacuum of authority in Tehran.