Pakistan: Divisions in Iran Complicate Mediation Efforts

Reuters reported that Pakistan is closely monitoring signs of growing divisions within Iran’s leadership, amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, while Islamabad reaffirms its commitment to mediation and dialogue to contain the crisis.

According to Reuters, two Pakistani government officials said that the leadership in Islamabad is closely following the widening gap between the positions of several senior Iranian officials and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), viewing this as a factor that could further complicate Iran’s political and security landscape.

The officials added that the stances of Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf have increasingly diverged from the IRGC’s positions, particularly regarding the management of the current crisis and dealings with the United States.

The agency quoted Pakistani defense analyst Muhammad Ali as saying that the military, referring to the IRGC and the broader military establishment, “appears to be dominating the decision-making process in Iran,” adding that this impression is becoming more entrenched among policymakers in Islamabad.

Sources indicated that the recent wave of escalation led to the postponement of an unannounced visit by an Iranian delegation to Pakistan, originally scheduled for the beginning of the week. The delegation, led by Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni, arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday, two days later than planned.

In a press briefing, Pakistani Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi called on all parties to “exercise the utmost restraint,” emphasizing that “there is no alternative to continuous communication, dialogue, and diplomacy” to prevent further escalation.

One Pakistani official stated that his country does not intend to abandon its mediation efforts between Washington and Tehran, despite the difficulties encountered in recent weeks. He added, “There is frustration, but we have invested heavily in this track, and we have a vested interest in its continuation.”

The statements by Pakistani officials reflect Islamabad’s assessment of developments within Iran. Meanwhile, no official comment has been issued by Tehran regarding Reuters’ report on discrepancies between the political leadership and the IRGC, or on the impact of such divisions on the country’s decision-making mechanisms.