One of the problems that Iran has right now is that they're in a bit of a leadership crisis.
It's not clear if their "Supreme Leader," Mojtaba Khamenei, is even alive. Many of their other leaders have been eliminated.
So who exactly is in charge? That's been a big question.
The indications had been that the U.S. was negotiating with the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and the Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf.
But, as we reported, President Donald Trump said that the president of Iran had asked for a ceasefire. Trump termed him a "much less Radicalized and far more intelligent than his predecessors." Trump said they would consider a ceasefire "when the Hormuz Strait is open, free, and clear. Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!"
READ MORE: Ahead of Address to Nation, Trump Hints Iran May Be Ready to Fold
The current president is Masoud Pezeshkian.
That's interesting because it matches some of the internal reports about infighting between Pezeshkian and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) chief commander Ahmad Vahidi over how to deal with the conflict.
Serious disagreements have emerged between Iran's President Pezeshkian and IRGC chief Ahmad Vahidi over how to manage the war and its damaging impact on people’s livelihoods and the economy, sources with knowledge of the matter told Iran International.https://t.co/pF37In0qbl pic.twitter.com/FgGtsGiTuK
— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) March 28, 2026
Pezeshkian has criticized the approach of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps regarding escalating tensions and continuing attacks on neighboring countries, warning about the economic consequences of the situation, according to the sources who spoke on condition of anonymity.
He has stressed that without a ceasefire, Iran’s economy could face total collapse within three weeks to one month, the sources said.
Sounds like Pezeshkian knows they're in deep trouble. It's hard to assess how bad it's gotten since the conflict started, since they shut down the internet there and aren't letting much information out. But they already had incredibly bad inflation. Continuing to get pounded is only going to make things worse.
Pezeshkian told the European Council president, "We possess the necessary will to end this conflict, provided that essential conditions are met, especially the guarantees required to prevent repetition of the aggression."
But Pezeshkian still has to deal with the IRGC, which is the real power. It sounds like they're all jockeying for power.
The Times of Israel, citing a senior Israeli official, wrote: “There are signs of cracks in the Iranian regime. We are now creating conditions for its overthrow, but ultimately everything depends on the Iranian people.”
The Israeli outlet Ynet also reported similar internal divisions earlier this month.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio also confirmed there were "fractures" in the regime leadership.
The problem, of course, is that the Iranian regime is not an honest actor. What you don't want is to make a deal when you have them over a barrel, but then have to come back in two years to clean up a new problem if they recover and rebuild their arsenal.
Pezeshkian might want a deal, but the regime may also be trying to play games.
Beni Sabti, an Iran expert at the Israeli Institute for National Security Studies, warned that even when Iran signals interest in a "ceasefire," it may not reflect a Western understanding of the term.
He pointed to the concept of "hudna," describing it as "a ceasefire with deception — they stop when they are weak, rebuild their strength, and then attack again, whether against Israel or the United States."
That's likely why Trump is playing a "put up or shut up" game — prove your power and your desire by opening up the Strait first. That way, he can ensure he's dealing with the people who do have the power in the country, and he can judge their sincerity over an issue they created. If they screw around, he has forces in theater, if he needs them, and Iran won't like that option. And the United Arab Emirates reportedly is willing to step up militarily and help out to clear the Strait by force.
READ MORE: New Pressure on Iran As US Ally Reportedly Ready to Move Militarily in the Strait
So the leaders may be jockeying for power, but they're still in the same bad position, with their one real leverage play of the Strait starting to collapse by the wayside and making more problems for them.
