Part 6/18:
Led by Commander Ahmad Vahidi, the IRGC sees escalation as the only way forward. Historically, the IRGC controls significant portions of Iran’s economy—around 30-40%—including oil, telecom, ports, and construction, which makes it an economic empire built largely on the revolutionary narrative of conflict. To them, peace and diplomacy threaten their institutional existence, which relies on being perceived as Iran’s shield against enemies—external and internal.