Tehran, April 20, 2026 - A sharp escalation in Iran's internal power struggle has erupted into open hostility, with media outlets closely affiliated to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) now publicly branding Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, and other senior civilian officials as "traitors" for their perceived flexibility during recent US-Iran negotiations.
The attacks intensified after Araghchi's announcement regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for commercial vessels and Ghalibaf's relatively moderate stance during the first round of direct talks in Islamabad. IRGC-linked outlets, including Tasnim News Agency and Ofogh TV, have launched fierce criticism, accusing the officials of making "concessions to the enemy" and undermining Iran's revolutionary principles.
Hardline commentators have gone further, using terms such as "betrayal" and "humiliation" to describe any willingness to engage in further talks with the United States. The rhetoric reflects deep divisions between the IRGC's hardline faction - which favors continued military pressure and rejects compromise - and the civilian government under President Masoud Pezeshkian, which has shown openness to diplomacy to ease economic sanctions and prevent wider conflict.
The public labeling of senior figures as traitors is highly unusual and signals that the power struggle, already at unprecedented levels, is now spilling into the public domain. This internal rift has created contradictory signals from Tehran on critical issues, including the status of the Strait of Hormuz and the possibility of a second round of negotiations in Islamabad.
Pakistan, which has been actively mediating, is reportedly receiving mixed messages from different Iranian power centers. US President Donald Trump has noted the internal divisions while continuing to push for a deal before the current ceasefire expires around April 22.
Analysts warn that if the IRGC continues to dominate the narrative and sidelines moderate voices, the prospects for a stable diplomatic resolution with the United States could collapse rapidly, raising the risk of renewed escalation in the Gulf.
