Stir Over Iran President's Apology Remark Exposes Divisions In Leadership As War Pressure Mounts

Last Updated:March 08, 2026, 08:23 IST

Iran's leadership is fracturing amid conflict with Israel and the US. President Pezeshkian's apology angered hardliners like Rasai and the Revolutionary Guards.

As the war continues to escalate with Israel and the US, the hierarchy of Iran appears to be fracturing over the conflict that its leaders appear to be perceiving as existential.

The cracks were laid bare between hardliners and a more pragmatic faction after President Masoud Pezeshkian’s apology and promise not to strike the Gulf states caused a stir in Iran and forced his office to reiterate that Iran’s military will firmly respond to attacks from US bases in the region. Click Here To Follow Live Updates

Stir Over Pezeshkian’s Apology

Hours after the apology, the president again repeated his statement on social media; however, he omitted the apology part from his speech, which had left hardliners, including the powerful Revolutionary Guards, fuming with anger.

Taking to X, hardline cleric and lawmaker Hamid Rasai said, “Mr Pezeshkian, your stance was unprofessional, weak and unacceptable."

His idea of an apology was also denounced by a former Revolutionary Guards commander on social media.

Meanwhile, the judiciary chief and a member of the three-man council that holds the powers of the supreme leader, Mohseni-Ejei, said that territories of some regional countries were being used to strike Iran and that retaliatory strikes would continue.

Amid the stir over Pezeshkian’s apology, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards announced that they had struck a US air combat centre at Al Dhafra Air Base, near Abu Dhabi.

Cracks Appearing Due To Khamenei’s Killing?

The differences within Iran’s ruling elite have remained suppressed for a long time under the iron rule of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; however, his killing a week ago has allowed them to spill out in the open amid piling pressure on Tehran due to US and Israeli strikes.

The Revolutionary Guards have seized a bigger role in strategy amid the unrelenting bombardment, even though many of its top commanders have been killed.

Sources close to Iran’s leadership have told Reuters that the strains have begun appearing among leaders who are still alive.

Strain Within Top Leadership: A Tactic To Negotiate With West?

According to two senior sources, the leadership of Iran has sometimes used differences between hardliners and moderates as a tactic to negotiate with the West; however, the dispute over Pezeshkian’s remarks showed genuine differences.

A hardliner close to Khamenei’s office said to Reuters that the comments of Pezeshkian had angered many senior commanders in the Guards.

(With inputs from Reuters)

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