Iranian President Pezeshkian ‘Incredibly Angry’ at IRGC After Unauthorized UAE Strikes
Reflecto News | Breaking News | Iran-US Conflict
TEHRAN — Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian is reportedly “incredibly angry” with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) following Monday’s missile and drone strikes against the United Arab Emirates, which were launched without the knowledge or approval of the Iranian government, according to exclusive reporting from Iran International .
The unauthorized attacks, which damaged an Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) tanker and struck the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, have exposed a deepening rift between Iran’s moderate political leadership and its hardline military commanders, raising urgent questions about who truly controls Iran’s wartime decision-making .
🔥 ‘Madness’: Pezeshkian’s Reported Fury
According to exclusive information obtained by Iran International, Pezeshkian has expressed strong anger at what he views as the IRGC’s “completely irresponsible” behavior, describing the escalation as “madness” and warning of “potentially irreversible consequences” for the country .
Sources familiar with Tehran’s deliberations say the president was blindsided by the attacks and that the strikes were carried out “without the government’s knowledge or coordination” . The report indicates that Pezeshkian has requested an urgent meeting with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei to press for an immediate halt to IRGC attacks on Gulf states and to prevent further escalation .
Pezeshkian is expected to argue that “a narrow window remains to salvage the ceasefire through urgent diplomatic action,” and that he should be allowed to signal to international mediators Tehran’s readiness to return to negotiations . The president is said to be “deeply concerned about potential international reactions” and believes that “the country cannot withstand a new full-scale war” .
“He has warned that continued unilateral attacks could trigger heavy US retaliation against critical energy and economic infrastructure—an outcome he reportedly said could lead to widespread destruction and an irreversible collapse in livelihoods.”
— Sources familiar with Tehran’s deliberations, speaking to Iran International
🎯 ‘Who Is in Charge?’: Iranian Military vs. Government
Monday’s incident is not an isolated event, but rather the sharpest manifestation of a long-running structural conflict within Iran’s power structure. Since the war began on February 28, the balance of power has tilted decisively away from elected officials and toward the IRGC.
The real power in Iran lies today not in the presidential palace but in the IRGC command center.
| Entity | Current Role | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| President Pezeshkian | Wants diplomacy, ceasefire, economic stability | Has no formal authority over IRGC operations |
| IRGC Command | Controls missile launches, naval operations, foreign attacks | Not required to inform or consult the government |
| Supreme Leader Khamenei (Mojtaba) | Ultimate authority; reportedly sympathetic to IRGC | Wounded and in hiding; limited public engagement |
In early March, Pezeshkian publicly apologized to Gulf neighbors for Iranian strikes and announced that he had instructed the armed forces to halt such attacks—only to have the IRGC continue launching missiles and drones at the UAE, Bahrain, and Kuwait within hours of his statement .
“Pezeshkian said Iran’s armed forces had sometimes acted ‘at their own discretion’ during the recent conflict. He added that, following a decision by the ‘temporary leadership council,’ military forces had now been instructed not to attack neighboring countries.”
— Iran International reporting on March developments
The pattern is now unmistakable: the IRGC’s actions have repeatedly undermined the president’s public statements. When Pezeshkian says “no more strikes,” the IRGC continues striking. When he says “we are ready to negotiate,” they launch a cruise missile barrage.
📜 ‘They Are Acting Based on General Instructions’
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has acknowledged the gap, telling Al Jazeera earlier this year that military units have grown “independent and somewhat isolated” and are “acting based on general instructions given to them in advance” .
The mixed messaging reflects a fundamental reality: under Iran’s constitution, the president is responsible for foreign policy and government administration, but the IRGC answers directly to the Supreme Leader. With Mojtaba Khamenei still recovering from wounds sustained on the first day of the war and his authority not yet fully consolidated, the IRGC has effectively been acting as a “state within a state” .
The January 2022 killing of senior IRGC commanders by U.S. forces has left a leadership vacuum that the remaining commanders have filled by taking a more assertive, independent role .
⚔️ The UAE Attacks: What Happened
On Monday, IRGC forces launched a coordinated attack on UAE assets in and around the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Key targets in the UAE strikes:
| Target | Outcome |
|---|---|
| MV Barakah (ADNOC oil tanker) | Struck by two drones while transiting the strait; no injuries |
| Fujairah Oil Industry Zone | Fire reported following drone strike |
| Additional missiles/drones | Intercepted by UAE air defenses |
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the attacks a “flagrant violation” of international law and confirmed that no casualties were reported among its citizens .
In total, the UAE reported intercepting multiple Iranian projectiles, including ballistic missiles and drones. The attacks marked the first direct strike on Emirati infrastructure since the April ceasefire took effect .
🏛️ ‘Hardline Backlash’: IRGC Allies Attack Pezeshkian
The power struggle is not just behind closed doors. Hardline lawmakers have publicly attacked Pezeshkian for what they see as weakness.
- Hamid Rasaei, a hardline member of parliament, called Pezeshkian’s stance “unprofessional, weak and unacceptable” .
- Kamran Ghazanfari, a Tehran representative, has threatened to pursue a parliamentary motion declaring the president politically incompetent—a process that would require signatures from one-third of lawmakers and a two-thirds vote to remove him .
- Raja News, a conservative website, described Pezeshkian as “an irritant to a nation ready for the final confrontation” .
The coordinated attacks from parliament and state-aligned media suggest that the IRGC and its allies are actively working to sideline Pezeshkian and prevent any diplomatic off-ramp that might compromise their wartime posture .
🇺🇸 ‘The U.S. Is Watching’
The power struggle in Tehran has not gone unnoticed in Washington. The Trump administration is reportedly aware of the split and is tailoring its “Project Freedom” strategy to exploit it.
The U.S. goal appears to be to increase military pressure (through the naval blockade and the “Project Freedom” convoy) in the hope that it will trigger a confrontation between the “moderate” (Pezeshkian) and “hardline” (IRGC) factions, potentially leading to a change in Iran’s nuclear calculus—or at least to a ceasefire that the IRGC cannot undermine .
For now, the message from the IRGC is clear: the military sets the pace of the war, and the president can only watch, complain, and request meetings that may or may not change the outcome.
The fact that Pezeshkian had to request an urgent meeting with the Supreme Leader rather than simply order the IRGC to stand down shows exactly where power lies in Tehran. And with Mojtaba Khamenei still recovering from wounds sustained on the first day of the war, it is unclear who, if anyone, can rein in the IRGC’s independent actions .
📋 Key Takeaways
| Aspect | Summary |
|---|---|
| Pezeshkian’s Reaction | Reportedly “incredibly angry,” called IRGC actions “madness” and “completely irresponsible” |
| IRGC Actions | Launched strikes on UAE oil tanker and Fujairah facility without government approval |
| Internal Power Struggle | Latest in a months-long pattern: Pezeshkian orders halt; IRGC ignores and escalates |
| Hardline Response | Lawmakers threaten impeachment; media calls Pezeshkian a “weak irritant” |
| Pezeshkian’s Concern | Fears continued attacks will trigger US retaliation and “irreversible collapse in livelihoods” |
| UAE Impact | ADNOC tanker struck; Fujairah fire; no casualties reported among Emirati citizens |
| U.S. Posture | Trump welcomes “Project Freedom” military pressure; expects eventual IRGC capitulation |
| Khamenei’s Role | Reportedly still recovering; unclear if he can or will restrain IRGC |
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