Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Syed Asim Munir, held an important meeting with Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian in Tehran on April 18, 2026. [Pakistan Press International / Reuters]

Sources told Iran International on Tuesday that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), Iran's elite military force, has blocked President Masoud Pezeshkian's appointments and erected a security cordon around Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.

According to the report, the IRGC has effectively taken over the country's key functions, and President Pezeshkian is in a "complete political deadlock" as tensions between his administration and the military leadership intensify.

"It was only a matter of 'when' rather than 'if' the IRGC would become more overtly involved than they have been over the past 30 years," Benyamin Ben Talelblu, senior director of the Iran program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital.

"However, it would be a mistake to characterize this as a coup," he added. "This has been a gradual process as the Iranian regime has chosen conflict over cooperation for years and has been strengthening its security forces at every turn."

According to Iran International, President Pezeshkian's recent attempt to appoint a new minister of intelligence was thwarted by direct pressure from IRGC Commander Ahmad Vahidi, and all candidates, including former Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan, were rejected, sources said.

"By any measure, Vahidi is considered a radical figure even among the hard-line elite within the regime, and his rise is a warning that Tehran's war machine is now in the driver's seat," Lissa Daftary, a foreign policy analyst and journalist, told Fox News Digital.

In Iran's traditional system, the president can only nominate a minister of intelligence after approval from the Supreme Leader.

According to Iran International, a "military council" composed of high-ranking IRGC officers now controls access to the center of power, preventing government reports from reaching Mojtaba and effectively isolating him from the elected government.

Pezeshkian, elected in 2025 on a platform of moderation and reform, has faced repeated pressure from security agencies and the clerical leadership.

According to Iran International, some of Mojtaba Khamenei's close associates are attempting to oust Ali Asghar Hejazi, a powerful security manager within the Supreme Leader's office.

The report states that Hejazi warned members of the Assembly of Experts that Mojtaba is not qualified to be Supreme Leader and that hereditary succession violates the principles established by Ali Khamenei.

Hejazi is also reported to have warned that if Mojtaba gains power, the country will effectively be handed over to the IRGC, and civilian institutions will be permanently marginalized.

Analysts say the recent developments suggest that the IRGC is no longer operating behind the scenes but is openly emerging as the dominant force in Tehran.

US NNP= Chief Reporter Sung Ku Hong / Special Correspondent NNP info@newsandpost.com