INTERNACIONAL
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard sidelines president as military grip expands
IRGC leader takes control of Iran’s military as US tensions rise
A US Navy destroyer intercepted an Iranian-flagged cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, firing into its engine room after repeated warnings. Following a six-hour standoff, US Marines took custody of the vessel. President Donald Trump issued stern warnings, threatening to ‘take out their bridges and power plants’ if ongoing peace talks fail, as Iran’s hardline IRGC leader consolidates military control.
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Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the elite branch of the Iranian Armed Forces, has blocked President Masoud Pezeshkian’s presidential appointments and erected what sources described as a security cordon around Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, a report published Tuesday by Iran International said.
The IRGC effectively has assumed control over key state functions, the report claimed.
«It was always a matter of when, not if, the IRGC was going to step forward even more than it has in the last three decades,» Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of the Iran program at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital.
Pezeshkian has reached a «complete political deadlock» as tensions between his administration and the military leadership deepen, according to the report.
IRAN’S CEASEFIRE PUSH MAY BE A ‘CYCLE OF DECEPTION,’ ANALYSTS WARN AS SHADOWY FIGURE GAINS POWER
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the elite branch of the Iranian Armed Forces, has blocked President Masoud Pezeshkian’s presidential appointments, a new report says. (John Lamparski/Getty Images)
The reported shift could have major consequences far beyond Iran.
Analysts say a more powerful IRGC likely would mean a more confrontational Iran, less willing to compromise in talks with Washington and more inclined to continue military escalation across the region. With U.S.-Iran negotiations already faltering and uncertainty growing over whether Tehran will even send negotiators to the next round of talks, the rise of the Revolutionary Guard raises fresh doubts about who actually is making decisions in Iran and whether any civilian official can still speak for the regime.
«But it’s a mistake to assume this is some sort of coup,» Ben Taleblu said. «This has been the process in Iran for years now, as the regime has chosen conflict over cooperation and emboldened its security forces at every juncture.»
Pezeshkian’s recent effort to appoint a new intelligence minister collapsed after direct pressure from IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi, sources told Iran International, arguing that all proposed candidates, including former Defense Minister Hossein Dehghan, were rejected.
FILE- Members of the Iranian revolutionary guard march during a parade. The IRGC is designated as a foreign terrorist organization by the State Department. A large part of its work is to covertly operate outside of Iran. (Reuters)
Vahidi reportedly insisted that under wartime conditions, all critical and sensitive positions must be chosen and managed directly by the Revolutionary Guard until further notice.
«By any standard, Vahidi is considered a radical even within the regime’s hardline elite, and his rise is a warning that Tehran’s war machine now calls the shots,» Lisa Daftari, foreign policy analyst and journalist, told Fox News Digital.
Under Iran’s system, the president traditionally nominates an intelligence minister only after securing approval from the supreme leader. But with the condition and whereabouts of Mojtaba Khamenei unclear in recent weeks, the IRGC appears to be increasingly acting without civilian oversight.
IRAN’S NEW SUPREME LEADER IS ‘HIS FATHER ON STEROIDS,’ EXPERTS WARN OF HARDLINE RULE
RGC commander Ahmad Vahidi reportedly insisted that under wartime conditions, all critical and sensitive positions must be chosen and managed directly by the Revolutionary Guard until further notice. (Morteza Nikoubazl/Nur Photo via Getty Images)
The report claims Pezeshkian repeatedly has sought an urgent meeting with Mojtaba Khamenei but has been unable to establish contact.
Instead, according to Iran International, a «military council» made up of senior IRGC officers now controls access to the center of power, preventing government reports from reaching Mojtaba and effectively isolating him from the elected government.
Still, analysts say the reported power struggle reflects a longer trend in Iran, where the Revolutionary Guard has steadily expanded its influence over politics, the economy, and national security.
Ben Taleblu argued that Pezeshkian’s apparent sidelining should not be viewed as a dramatic break from the past because the president never exercised significant independent authority.
«Those who worry about Pezeshkian’s potential sidelining need to consider what he realistically was or wasn’t able to do mere months ago when the regime slaughtered 40,000 Iranians in the streets,» he said.
Pezeshkian, elected in 2025 on promises of moderation and reform, has repeatedly found himself constrained by the security establishment and the clerical leadership.
The latest report suggests that dynamic has intensified dramatically as Iran faces growing external pressure and internal uncertainty.
One of the most striking claims involves Ali Asghar Hejazi, a powerful security official inside the office of the supreme leader.
LETHAL ELITE ‘BLACK-CLAD’ KILL SQUAD GUARDS IRAN’S NEW SUPREME LEADER MOJTABA KHAMENEI
A banner featuring Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is displayed in Tehran, Iran, March 14, 2026. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images)
Some of Mojtaba Khamenei’s associates are now trying to push Hejazi out because he opposed Mojtaba succeeding his father, according to Iran International.
The report said Hejazi warned members of the Assembly of Experts that Mojtaba lacked the qualifications to become supreme leader and that hereditary succession would violate the principles laid out by Ali Khamenei.
Hejazi reportedly also warned that putting Mojtaba in power would effectively hand the country to the Revolutionary Guard and permanently sideline civilian institutions.
That warning increasingly appears to reflect what is already happening.
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Analysts say the latest developments suggest the IRGC is no longer operating behind the scenes, but is openly emerging as the dominant force in Tehran. (AFP/Via Getty Images)
The Revolutionary Guard, created after the 1979 Islamic Revolution to defend the regime, has long evolved far beyond a military force. It now controls major sections of Iran’s economy, oversees the country’s missile and nuclear programs, and exerts influence across nearly every branch of government.
Analysts say the latest developments suggest the IRGC is no longer operating behind the scenes, but is openly emerging as the dominant force in Tehran.
Iran’s mission to the United Nations declined to comment.
war with iran, mojtaba khamenei, presidential, national security, appointments, iran
INTERNACIONAL
Ecuador y Estados Unidos firmaron un nuevo acuerdo para fortalecer investigaciones contra el crimen organizado
Ecuador y Estados Unidos suscribieron un nuevo acuerdo de cooperación en materia de seguridad que busca fortalecer las investigaciones conjuntas contra el crimen organizado transnacional, en un contexto marcado por el incremento de la violencia y la expansión de economías ilícitas en el país andino. El memorando de entendimiento fue firmado el 20 de abril de 2026 entre la Oficina de Investigaciones de Seguridad Nacional del Servicio de Inmigración y Control de Aduanas de Estados Unidos (HSI, por sus siglas en inglés) y el Ministerio del Interior de Ecuador, con el objetivo de ampliar el intercambio de información, la asistencia técnica y los procesos de capacitación dirigidos a la Policía Nacional.
El acuerdo contempla un esquema de cooperación operativa que prioriza delitos considerados de alto impacto en la región, como el lavado de activos, el tráfico ilícito de armas, la trata de personas, el tráfico de migrantes y los delitos vinculados a la explotación sexual infantil. Según informaron las autoridades, el eje central del memorando es el fortalecimiento de las capacidades investigativas mediante el acceso oportuno a inteligencia compartida y el desarrollo de herramientas técnicas que permitan desarticular estructuras criminales con alcance internacional.
La firma se realizó en la residencia de la misión diplomática de Estados Unidos en Quito y contó con la participación de autoridades de ambos países, entre estas los representantes de la embajada estadounidense, mandos policiales ecuatorianos y funcionarios responsables de las unidades de investigación involucradas. El encargado de Negocios de Estados Unidos en Ecuador, Lawrence J. Petroni, sostuvo que el acuerdo apunta a “desarticular estructuras criminales y llevarlas ante la justicia”, mientras que el agregado de HSI, Héctor Quintana, señaló que el compromiso refleja las prioridades estratégicas compartidas por ambos gobiernos en materia de seguridad.
Desde el Gobierno ecuatoriano, el ministro del Interior, John Reimberg, afirmó que la cooperación se sustenta en un enfoque de corresponsabilidad y articulación institucional, orientado a generar resultados concretos frente a las amenazas del crimen organizado. En esa línea, destacó que el intercambio seguro y oportuno de información constituye un componente clave para mejorar la eficacia de las investigaciones y la coordinación entre agencias. En un mensaje público, Reimberg subrayó que la relación bilateral con Estados Unidos se basa en la confianza mutua y en intereses compartidos en materia de seguridad y desarrollo.
El memorando se enmarca en una estrategia más amplia de cooperación internacional impulsada por Ecuador, que incluye su participación en iniciativas regionales como el “Escudo de las Américas”, para enfrentar redes criminales que operan a escala transnacional. La canciller ecuatoriana, Gabriela Sommerfeld, señaló que este tipo de acuerdos refuerzan el compromiso del país con mecanismos multilaterales y bilaterales para combatir amenazas comunes, según recogió Ecuavisa.
El fortalecimiento de esta cooperación ocurre en un momento en que Ecuador enfrenta una crisis de seguridad caracterizada por el aumento de homicidios, la presencia de organizaciones criminales locales con conexiones internacionales y la consolidación de rutas de narcotráfico que utilizan el territorio ecuatoriano como punto estratégico de salida hacia mercados internacionales. En este contexto, la articulación con agencias estadounidenses busca no solo mejorar la capacidad operativa interna, sino también integrar al país en redes de inteligencia que permitan anticipar y neutralizar amenazas.
El acuerdo no implica la instalación de bases extranjeras ni la cesión de competencias soberanas, sino que se centra en mecanismos de cooperación técnica, intercambio de información y formación especializada. Las autoridades han señalado que su implementación se realizará bajo los marcos legales vigentes en Ecuador, con énfasis en el respeto a los derechos humanos y las normativas nacionales.
La suscripción de este memorando consolida una línea de política exterior orientada al fortalecimiento de alianzas estratégicas en materia de seguridad, en un escenario regional donde el crimen organizado ha diversificado sus operaciones y ha incrementado su capacidad de penetración institucional.
South America / Central America,QUITO
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A gunman who fatally shot a Canadian tourist and wounded more than a dozen others atop a historic pyramid in Mexico on Monday has been identified, according to officials.
Authorities identified the gunman as 27-year-old Julio Cesar Jasso, a Mexican national, according to a state official who spoke anonymously because they were not authorized to discuss the case publicly.
Jasso later died by suicide after turning the gun on himself, and security officials found a gun, a knife and ammunition. Authorities said he acted alone, with the State of Mexico government confirming he was the sole assailant on Monday night.
Officials said seven of the victims were struck by gunfire, while others were hurt in the chaos as people scrambled to get down from the pyramids, with some falling during the panic.
EX-TV REPORTER ALLEGEDLY TURNED ROADSIDE GUNMAN, GRILLED VICTIMS ON ETHNICITY BEFORE OPENING FIRE
The Pyramid of the Moon and the Pyramid of the Sun are seen along with smaller structures lining the Avenue of the Dead in Teotihuacan, Mexico, on March 19, 2020. A gunman killed a Canadian tourist and injured several other before taking his own life at the popular site, authorities said Monday. (Rebecca Blackwell/AP)
Those hospitalized included tourists from several countries, among them the United States, Colombia, Russia, Brazil and Canada, authorities said. The victims ranged in age from 6 to 61.
Footage circulating in local media appears to show the suspect positioned atop the structure as visitors rushed for safety below, with gunfire echoing across the site.
Police and forensic workers stand on a pyramid after authorities said a gunman opened fire in Teotihuacan, Mexico, Monday, April 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)
The Teotihuacan complex, located just outside Mexico City, is one of the country’s most visited archaeological landmarks, drawing millions of international visitors each year to its towering pre-Hispanic structures.
MOSCOW-BORN GUNMAN DEAD AFTER KYIV SHOOTING RAMPAGE LEAVES AT LEAST 6 DEAD, 14 WOUNDED: ZELENSKYY
The shooting took place shortly after 11:30 a.m. when dozens of tourists were at the top of the Pyramid of the Moon.
Security measures at the site have changed in recent years, with routine entry screenings no longer consistently in place, according to a local guide.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum wrote on social media that the shooting would be investigated and that she was in touch with the Canadian Embassy.
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«What happened today in Teotihuacán deeply pains us. I express my most sincere solidarity with the affected individuals and their families,» she wrote.
Anita Anand, Canada’s foreign affairs minister, said on X that as a «result of a horrific act of gun violence, a Canadian was killed and another wounded in Teotihuacán» and that her «thoughts are with their family and loved ones.»
People visit the Pyramid of the Sun in the pre-Hispanic city of Teotihuacan near Mexico City, Mexico, on March 21, 2024, following the spring equinox. (Henry Romero/Reuters)
Later in the evening, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ronald Johnson also expressed «deep concern» and sadness over the deaths and numerous injuries, and said in a post on X that the U.S. is «ready to provide support as needed while Mexican authorities continue their investigation.»
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The National Institute of Anthropology and History said in a statement that the Teotihuacán archaeological site will remain closed until further notice.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
travel safety, location mexico, mexico, historic sites, assassinations murders
Virginia voters to decide on redistricting plan that could shift power
Virginia voters are poised to vote on a redistricting plan this week, a decision President Trump warns carries national implications. Rep. John McGuire, R-Va., argues the proposal is an ‘unconstitutional power grab’ by Democrats aiming to secure more congressional seats. He highlights the impact on Virginia’s 50-50 voter split and calls for a ‘no’ vote.
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President Donald Trump is urging Virginians going to the polls Tuesday to reject a redistricting ballot measure that could hand Democrats as many as four House seats in November, a large haul with House Republicans hanging onto a slim majority.
«This referendum is a blatant partisan power grab that nobody’s really ever seen anything like it,» Trump told a telerally call with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Monday night, The Hill reported.
Just say «no» to Democrat Gov. Abigail Spanberger’s push, he added.
«It’s the liberal extremist Gov. Abigail Spanberger, too bad, and the far-left Democrats in Richmond after Spanberger promised Virginia voters that she would never do this,» he told the call. «And if it passes, Virginia Democrats will eliminate four out of five congressional seats, so you’re going to get just wiped out in terms of representation in Washington.
DEMS FACE SCRUTINY OVER CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATION GAPS IN BLUE STATES: ‘DON’T HAVE CLEAN HANDS’
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, a Democrat, is being criticized for signing a bill that critics say hand the state’s electoral votes away. (Steve Helber/AP Photo; Graeme Sloan/Bloomberg via Getty Images)
«That’s what it’s all about. Please get out and vote and vote no. It’s very simple,» the president added. «Just vote no.»
Virginia has moved to push through a new map before the 2026 midterms, something that would not otherwise happen before the 2030 census.
Democrats currently hold six of the 11 House seats in Virginia, a state that narrowly went for former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024, but the new map would hand the Democrats a huge 10-1 advantage.
SPANBERGER ONCE BLASTED GERRYMANDERING AND NOW BACKS AMENDMENT CRITICS SAY COULD ERASE VIRGINIA GOP
Among the nearly 6 million registered voters in the state of Virginia, Democrats do have an edge, but not one that wide. The state is majority Democrat (51.24%), but Republicans (30.56%) and independents (18.2%) are both well represented, according to Independent Voter Project data.
«We have to stand up for fair maps and we have to vote no,» Johnson told the call.
«As your speaker of the House, I see firsthand every single day how all five of those members are leading the fight on things like lowering costs and securing our borders and making Virginia and America great again,» he said. «And we need to return all five of them to Congress this November.»
GOP-LED COUNTIES PUSH BACK AGAINST DEMOCRAT’S REDISTRICTING CHARGE, TESTING VIRGINIA’S CONSTITUTIONAL LIMITS
Johnson was referring to the vulnerable seats of Virginia GOP Reps. Rob Wittman, Jen Kiggans, John McGuire, Ben Cline, and Morgan Griffith.
The new map would leave only Griffith’s 9th Congressional District with a Republican edge, but it would pit him against Cline in a difficult primary. Kiggans’ seat would remain a swing district, but one trending further into the favor of Democrats.
«They definitely want to turn us into New England,» Cline told the Ruthless Podcast last week. «Massachusetts used to have Republican members of Congress, a much more balanced delegation. Now it’s 9-0. But Republicans vote, what, 40% of the population there. They do it in Illinois. Most of the states where they control, they’re trying to just draw Republicans completely out.»
SCHWARZENEGGER PUSHING BACK BACK AGAINST NEWSOM REDISTRICTING BID IN CALIFORNIA
Former Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin, right, and former state Attorney General Jason Miyares lead a chant of «no» as they lead Republican efforts to defeat a Democrat-backed congressional redistricting referendum, on April 20, 2026 in Leesburg, Virginia. (Paul Steinhauser/Fox News)
It is not just about gaining house seats either. The map difficulty moves future candidates further left even on the right, according to Cline.
«Their goal is the long game,» Cline added. «It is the short game of the next election, but it’s also the long game of trying to turn rural Virginia into either a non-impact on politics or convert. You either assimilate or you’re destroyed.»
Griffith is planning a legal challenge on the structure of Tuesday’s special election ballot question for its «compactness, other arguments about the process, and the question on the ballot,» he told WJHL.
«These maps are horrible, and they do not work for good government, or good representation by any of the congressmen or women of Virginia,» he added.
JD VANCE CALLS ON REPUBLICANS TO TAKE ‘DECISIVE ACTION’ TO COUNTER DEMOCRATIC GERRYMANDERING
Notably, the ballot asks a generic question about a desire to «restore fairness,» suggesting the previously democratically approved map might be unfair.
«Question: Should the Constitution of Virginia be amended to allow the General Assembly to temporarily adopt new congressional districts to restore fairness in the upcoming elections, while ensuring Virginia’s standard redistricting process resumes for all future redistricting after the 2030 census?»
Former Virginia Attorney General Jason Miyares, a Republican, is calling out the disenfranchisement of voters in the state.
«It’s a measure to silence and disenfranchize the voices of millions of Virginians,» he told «Fox & Friends» on Tuesday morning. «And you’re exactly right when even The Washington Post calls the ‘yes’ campaign brazenly dishonest, that says something: They’re definitely not a friend to conservatives.»
‘FULL OF S—‘: NEW YORK REPUBLICAN ACCUSES STATE DEMS OF HYPOCRISY IN REDISTRICTING PUSH
«But what this is is nothing but a left-wing power grab» Miyares continued. «Virginians have already spoken on this in 2020 by a 30-point landslide. They said, ‘Hey, we don’t want politicians of either party drawing these lines,’ but Democrats, as soon as they got in power — remember Abigail Spanberger promised in August of 2025 that she wasn’t going to gerrymander Virginia — yet that was the very first bill she signed in office and is one of the reasons why she’s the least popular governor in the entire history of modern Virginia politics.«
While Spanberger has argued Virginia has to retaliate for other states efforts to redrawn favorable districts in their states for this midterm election, Miyares argued this one is the last and most blatantly lopsided.
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«It’s been called the most gerrymandered map in the entire country,» he told Fox News. «And now it’s why rural Virginians are standing up saying, ‘No, do not disenfranchise our voices,’ because 56 counties in Virginia, if this passes, will effectively not have a voice in Congress.
«That’s wrong. That’s not fair. That’s not democracy. Virginians need to go vote now, today.»
virginia, mike johnson, abigail spanberger, republicans elections
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