Iran's IRGC publicly spars with Foreign Minister over Strait of Hormuz status

The recent announcement by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi that the Strait of Hormuz is fully open to commercial vessels, coinciding with a ceasefire in Lebanon, has been met with a surprising display of internal dissent. While Araghchi's statement, made on X, aimed to bolster hopes for peace and sent oil prices tumbling, it has drawn sharp criticism from Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) through its affiliated Tasnim News. Tasnim News directly attacked Araghchi's tweet as 'Bad and Incomplete' and accused him of creating 'Incorrect Ambiguity.'

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Iran’s foreign minister has said that the strait of Hormuz is now fully open to commercial vessels, reinforcing hopes for an eventual end to the war in the Middle East and sending oil prices tumbling despite analysts’ warnings that there will be no immediate widespread resumption of passage through the vital waterway.

This public spat between the Foreign Ministry and the IRGC, particularly through media channels closely aligned with the IRGC, is a significant development. It suggests that the regime's facade of unity may be cracking under the pressure of ongoing US-Iran negotiations, which are reportedly facing controversy over aspects of a deal being brokered in Pakistan. The IRGC's pushback, with parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warning that the Strait 'will not remain open' if the US blockade continues, signals a potential internal power struggle or a deliberate tactic to manage public perception and international expectations.

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in line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire, on the coordinated route as already announced by Ports and Maritime Organisation of the Islamic Rep. of Iran.

While some might interpret this as a 'good cop-bad cop' routine, the direct and public nature of the criticism from Tasnim News appears more genuine than in the past. Previously, Iran often presented a narrative of hardliners holding back moderates to appease Western negotiators. However, this current public disagreement, especially concerning a critical issue like the Strait of Hormuz, points to deeper fissures within the Iranian leadership. The situation underscores the complex dynamics at play, where statements on critical geopolitical issues are not only aimed at international audiences but also serve as battlegrounds for internal political maneuvering.

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the strait of Hormuz will not remain open” if the US blockade continues.