The Iranian commander who reportedly pushed for the recent ballistic missile attack on Israel is now playing a central role in shaping Tehran’s negotiating position, with diplomats and regional officials identifying him as one of the most influential figures standing in the way of a final agreement with the United States.

Ahmad Vahidi, the commander of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, has emerged as a powerful voice within the regime, advocating a tougher military and diplomatic posture even as negotiations continue over a potential framework agreement aimed at ending the conflict.

Iran’s decision to launch ballistic missiles at Israel following the recent strike in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district—the first such attack in months—highlighted Vahidi’s growing influence within the Iranian leadership.

According to Iranian and Arab officials cited by The Wall Street Journal, Vahidi pushed aggressively for a forceful response against Israel in an effort to halt Israeli attacks on Hezbollah positions in Lebanon. More moderate voices within the Iranian government reportedly favored delaying military action, fearing that escalation could jeopardize a potential agreement with Washington that might provide desperately needed relief to Iran’s struggling economy.

Vahidi ultimately prevailed. Sources told the newspaper that he successfully persuaded Iran’s Supreme National Security Council to support the missile strikes, triggering the first direct exchange of fire between Iran and Israel since the April 8 ceasefire.

His growing influence has also made him one of the most significant figures shaping Iran’s approach at the negotiating table.

While President Donald Trump and international mediators indicated on Saturday that an initial agreement with Tehran could be close—and potentially signed within days—Iranian officials pushed back on those timelines. Within Tehran, the Revolutionary Guards and their allies have reportedly become the primary source of resistance to a rapid deal.

Mediators told The Wall Street Journal that negotiators have made progress toward an arrangement that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and end the American blockade, while postponing more contentious issues, including Iran’s nuclear program and access to frozen overseas assets, for later negotiations.

Trump said Thursday that the two sides had moved close enough to avoid further military strikes.

Iran, however, cautioned that it has not yet approved a final draft agreement. According to officials familiar with the discussions, Vahidi remains the most influential voice among hardliners who believe Tehran should hold out until additional demands are met.

For months, Vahidi has reportedly clashed with more publicly visible figures within the Iranian government. According to those familiar with internal debates, he has repeatedly emerged victorious in those disputes.

The 67-year-old commander is currently under U.S. sanctions for his alleged role in overseeing the suppression of women’s rights protests in 2022. He is also wanted by Interpol in connection with the deadly 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish community center in Buenos Aires, Argentina, which killed 85 people and wounded hundreds more.

Iran has consistently denied that Vahidi or any other Iranian official played a role in the attack.

According to diplomats and mediators involved in the current negotiations, Vahidi’s position at the head of the regime’s most powerful military organization means that his views now heavily influence Tehran’s negotiating strategy.

His forces also oversee Iran’s control of the Strait of Hormuz, widely regarded as one of the regime’s strongest bargaining chips in negotiations with the West.

Arab, Iranian, and European sources told The Wall Street Journal that throughout the conflict, Vahidi frequently overruled the preferences of Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Masoud Pezeshkian. Both men reportedly advocated a faster agreement with the United States in order to ease the economic pressure created by American sanctions and restrictions on Iran’s oil exports.

Vahidi, by contrast, has prioritized restoring Iran’s military deterrence capabilities and protecting Hezbollah’s position in Lebanon.

Officials say he was instrumental in linking developments in Lebanon to the broader conflict with Iran, insisting that any agreement with Washington must also address the fighting between Hezbollah and Israel.

He has also reportedly pressed negotiators to safeguard Iran’s missile arsenal and secure access to frozen Iranian funds abroad. According to sources familiar with his position, he has argued that any released funds should remain available for military purposes.

Argentina issued an arrest warrant for Vahidi through Interpol in 2007, accusing him of helping plan the 1994 AMIA bombing. The attack on the Jewish community center remains one of the deadliest acts of antisemitic terrorism in modern history.

Over the years, Vahidi has held a series of senior security positions within the Iranian regime, including defense minister, interior minister, and deputy commander of the Revolutionary Guards.

As defense minister in 2009, he played a significant role in procurement efforts tied to Iran’s missile, drone, and nuclear programs, according to the U.S. Treasury Department, which imposed sanctions on him the following year.

With negotiations between Washington and Tehran approaching a critical stage, diplomats say Vahidi’s influence may prove decisive in determining whether a deal is ultimately reached—or whether the conflict enters a new and more dangerous phase.

{Matzav.com}