Who determines Iran’s fighting and negotiating position amid US threats?

What the report says

Al Jazeera reports that Iran is continuing mediated talks with the United States even as tensions point toward a possible new escalation. The article says the negotiations, aimed at avoiding a broader war, have raised questions about who in Tehran truly sets policy: President Masoud Pezeshkian, Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or other security institutions. Pezeshkian said on Monday that his government had been given some authority for the talks, but he did not explain what that meant.

The report says power over war and diplomacy has shifted further toward military and security figures since fighting with the US and Israel intensified. It notes that Iran’s key decision-making bodies include the supreme leader’s office and the Supreme National Security Council, where military officials have strong influence. Al Jazeera also cites analyst Sina Toossi, who said any agreement would need the backing of Iran’s security and military establishment, especially because the talks now cover wider issues such as the Strait of Hormuz and future security guarantees.

According to the article, Mohsen Rezaei, a former IRGC commander and the SNSC secretary, has recently become a central interlocutor in the talks. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf remain involved in diplomacy, but the story suggests their roles are less dominant than those of security figures. The piece adds context by describing earlier maritime deals, their breakdown, and Iran’s current demands, including an end to the US blockade, sanctions relief, and assurances against further attacks.