A standoff has emerged between Iran’s newly elected President Masoud Pezeshkian and some hardliners in the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The incident has thrown the future of Iran’s response to the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran into limbo. The Iranian government is not unanimous on how to retaliate against Israel following the killing, The Telegraph reports.
The IRGC is reportedly advocating a direct and severe missile attack on Tel Aviv and other major Israeli cities. However, President Pezeshkian is opposed to this aggressive strategy. Pezeshkian is advocating attacks on Mossad bases located outside Israel. He wants to attack their bases in Azerbaijan and Kurdistan. Pezeshkian argues that this will reduce the risk of a direct fight with Israel.
A close aide of Pezeshkian told The Telegraph, “Pezeshkian fears that any direct attack on Israel would have grave consequences. He has suggested informing Azerbaijan and Iraqi Kurdistan before any attack on Israeli targets within their borders.”
An IRGC official told The Telegraph that his organization largely rejects the president’s more restrained approach. “The biggest concern is still to attack Tel Aviv together with Hezbollah and others,” The Telegraph quoted the official as saying.
Ismail Qaani, commander of the IRGC’s elite Quds Force, has also expressed strong support for immediate and decisive retaliation.
