Mojtaba Khamenei sidelines Pezeshkian in dispute over Strait of Hormuz policy

Internal friction within Iran’s political establishment has intensified as Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, reportedly exerts influence to sideline President Masoud Pezeshkian. The core of the dispute centers on contrasting strategies regarding the Strait of Hormuz and diplomatic engagement with the United States, highlighting a deepening rift between the presidency and the clerical elite. Strategic Control of the Strait of Hormuz The Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime passage through which 20% of the world’s petroleum liquids pass daily, has become a focal point of the power struggle. While the Pezeshkian administration has signaled a preference for cautious diplomacy to stabilize the national economy, hardline factions linked to Mojtaba Khamenei favor a more aggressive posture. This includes leveraging control over the waterway as a geopolitical deterrent against international sanctions and military pressure. Recent reports indicate that Mojtaba Khamenei is increasingly active in state affairs, influencing security policy in ways that limit the president's executive reach. This development comes as the Iranian leadership weighs its response to regional tensions and ongoing Western economic restrictions. Discord Over US Diplomatic Channels The disagreement extends to the framework of future negotiations with Washington. President Pezeshkian, who campaigned on a platform of "constructive engagement," faces significant pushback from the clerical…