Report: Top IRGC commander pushed Iran to resume attacks on Israel

New behind-the-scenes details say Ahmad Vahidi, commander of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, pressed hard for missile strikes on Israel in response to an IDF strike in Beirut last week, according to The Wall Street Journal. Arab and Iranian sources quoted by the paper said Vahidi argued privately for a heavy attack on Israel, saying it was needed to stop Hezbollah in Beirut.

The sources said more moderate figures in Iran wanted to delay any escalation, fearing it could jeopardize a possible deal with the United States that might help Iran’s economy. In the final internal decision-making, Vahidi reportedly persuaded Iran’s Supreme National Security Council to back the attacks, reigniting fire toward Israel for the first time since the April ceasefire.

The report portrays Vahidi as the most influential voice among Tehran’s hardliners in the negotiations, demanding that talks be put on hold until Iran’s demands are met. It also says he clashed with more publicly prominent political figures in Iran’s leadership and repeatedly emerged from closed-door meetings having prevailed.