Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has made a high-stakes appeal to his country's new Supreme Leader to rein in military attacks that have sent oil prices soaring and pushed the region toward a wider conflict.
The heart of the issue lies with Iran's powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), which has launched a new wave of missile and drone attacks on neighboring countries like the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These actions directly threaten the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which about 20% of the world's oil supply passes daily. The disruption caused oil prices to jump over 5% in a single day, prompting the U.S. to launch “Project Freedom,” a mission to escort commercial ships through the dangerous waters.
This crisis is the culmination of a deep internal power struggle within Iran. Let's trace the key events that led to this moment.
First, the immediate trigger was the May 4th attack on the UAE and commercial shipping. This flagrant violation of a fragile, three-week-old ceasefire forced President Pezeshkian's hand. He is arguing to the Supreme Leader that the IRGC's unilateral actions are becoming too costly, isolating Iran internationally and damaging its economy.
Second, this power struggle intensified after the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in February 2026. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, took over, and his leadership has appeared to empower hardliners within the IRGC. In late April, Mojtaba vowed to protect Iran's military capabilities and asserted a tougher stance on controlling the Strait of Hormuz, creating a political environment where the IRGC felt emboldened to act independently.
Third, this isn't the first time President Pezeshkian has tried to stop the IRGC. Back in March, he publicly apologized for earlier strikes and ordered a halt, only to be openly defied by the Guards. His latest appeal is a direct attempt to reassert civilian authority over the military, but this time he needs the Supreme Leader's backing to succeed. The president's argument is that continued escalation risks a direct military confrontation with the U.S. and its Gulf allies, a price too high to pay.
Ultimately, Pezeshkian's emergency request is a critical test for Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. His decision will determine whether Iran chooses a path of de-escalation or allows hardline military factions to drag the country into a larger, more costly conflict.
- Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC): A powerful branch of the Iranian Armed Forces, founded after the Iranian Revolution, intended to protect the country's Islamic political system.
- Strait of Hormuz: A strategically important strait or narrow strip of water that links the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea. It is a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments.
- Brent Crude: A major benchmark price for purchases of oil worldwide. It is sourced from the North Sea and is used to price two-thirds of the world's internationally traded crude oil supplies.