IRGC military council seizes de facto control of Iran — Pezeshkian sidelined, Mojtaba reportedly in coma

Iran's IRGC has effectively assumed control of key state functions, sidelining President Masoud Pezeshkian into a 'complete political deadlock,' according to a report by Iran International published April 1 and cited by India Today. A 'military council' composed of senior IRGC officers is now taking daily decisions for Iran. The IRGC has: established a strict security cordon around new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei; blocked government situation reports from reaching Mojtaba; ignored Pezeshkian's repeated requests for meetings with the Supreme Leader; and blocked presidential appointments — including Pezeshkian's attempt to appoint Hossein Dehghan as intelligence minister. There has been no contact between the political leadership and Mojtaba in recent days. Mojtaba Khamenei was named Supreme Leader days into the war after his father Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on Day 1 (February 28). However, Mojtaba has not been seen or heard from since. Trump suggested Mojtaba is in critical condition; Defense Secretary Hegseth said he was 'disfigured.' The latest reports cited by India Today suggest Mojtaba is likely in a coma. The IRGC's seizure of de facto state control has significant implications for any ceasefire negotiations: it is the IRGC, not the elected president or foreign minister Araghchi, who is effectively making Iran's war decisions. This explains the disconnect between Araghchi's public denials of negotiations and Trump's claims of productive talks with 'more moderate' Iranian leaders.