A widening divide between Iran's civilian government and powerful hardline factions is exposing competing visions for the country's future as leaders grapple with continued military tensions and international pressure, according to sources who spoke with the New York Post.
President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf are continuing to advocate for diplomacy and maintaining contacts with the United States, but their efforts are facing growing resistance from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC, and conservative lawmakers who favor a more confrontational approach, according to a report published Saturday.
The report said the internal struggle has intensified as Iran's political leadership attempts to recover from months of conflict that have strained the country's military and economy.
Analysts cited in the report contend that the limited public role of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has left rival factions with greater latitude to compete for influence over national security and foreign policy.
As that competition has intensified, the IRGC has assumed a more prominent role in shaping Iran's response to regional developments.
Military leaders and their allies in parliament have pushed policies emphasizing military strength and resistance to Western pressure, while civilian officials have continued to argue that diplomacy remains necessary to prevent a broader conflict.
According to the report, hardline figures have become increasingly influential in public messaging and policymaking, reinforcing what analysts describe as a shift in the balance of power toward Iran's security establishment.
The report also said the disagreement inside Tehran does not signal a move toward political moderation.
Instead, analysts believe the country's military leadership is gaining greater influence over strategic decisions, even as elected officials continue to publicly support negotiations.
The internal divisions come as hostilities between Iran and the United States continue to fuel instability across the Middle East. Military exchanges in recent months have heightened concerns that any miscalculation could trigger a wider regional conflict.
Analysts cited in the report said the ongoing tensions have strengthened the position of the IRGC, allowing military commanders to play a larger role in determining Iran's response to external threats while reducing the influence of civilian leaders over key security decisions.
Despite the competing approaches, the report said both factions remain committed to protecting Iran's interests, though they differ sharply on whether diplomacy or military pressure offers the best path forward.
Observers warned that the increasingly fractured decision-making process could make Tehran's future actions more difficult to predict and complicate efforts to reduce tensions in the region.