AiBotTehran, May 31, 2026 – The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corporation (IRGC) has been plunged into chaos following the reported death of Esmail Ghaani’s trusted deputy, Mojtaba, sparking concerns about a brewing power struggle among the country’s powerful military and political establishments.
Mojtaba, considered one of the most influential figures within the IRGC’s Quds Force, was a key advisor to the powerful commander, Ghaani. His untimely demise has sent shockwaves through the corridors of power in Tehran, leaving many wondering what his death might mean for the already volatile balance of power in the IRGC and the broader Iranian state.
Sources close to the situation confirm that the Quds Force, headed by Mojtaba, has been engaged in a bitter struggle for power with other influential IRGC factions, exacerbating the existing fragmentation within the country’s military establishment. Insiders describe a situation in which multiple sects and special forces units are fiercely vying for control, leaving the IRGC vulnerable to factional infighting and external threats.
“We see an uncoordinated and often disorganized response from different IRGC units in recent weeks,” a senior analyst familiar with the situation noted, speaking on condition of anonymity. “There are power vacuum concerns, factional divisions, and conflicting agendas that are further hindering the IRGC’s ability to address regional security challenges.”
Mojtaba’s death has also reignited long-standing tensions between the IRGC and various hardline factions within the Iranian government. Longstanding power struggles between the IRGC’s different branches and other influential institutions such as the Supreme National Security Council have intensified, threatening the delicate balance of power within the country’s military and security establishments.
“The IRGC, which was once an unassailable pillar of Iran’s security landscape, has been plagued by internal divisions, personal rivalries, and ideological tensions,” observed Hassan Abedi, an Iranian scholar who specializes in the country’s security and military affairs. “Mojtaba’s passing only underscores the growing uncertainty surrounding Iran’s strategic future and our national security capabilities.”
Tehran is bracing for an uncertain future as regional players continue to watch with great interest the unfolding power struggle within the IRGC. With Iran facing multiple security threats, including the ongoing war in Yemen and ongoing nuclear negotiations, the country can ill afford another period of internal conflict.
As one prominent Iranian analyst put it, “There is a growing consensus that an unstable and fragmented IRGC will struggle to navigate the complex regional security landscape and protect Iran’s vital interests, a prospect that only adds to the anxiety gripping Tehran’s corridors of power at this moment.”