The Wall Street Journal reports officials say an internal power struggle in Iran
is jeopardizing US‑Iran peace talks. Civilian leaders led by President
PEZESHKIAN are pressing to unfreeze billions of dollars in assets to ease
widespread hardship. Hardline forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard
Corps (IRGC), seek full control of the Strait of Hormuz and propose a
transit-fee regime to fund armed forces and shape regional security. The IRGC
has told mediators in Doha it would close the strait again if it does not
receive assurances of exclusive control, and has demanded that the US and other
states abandon plans to route vessels through waters south of the strait near
Oman.
