Reports circulating about the alleged resignation of Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian have been firmly denied by the authorities in Tehran, which have dismissed the claims as part of what they describe as a “media game”. The government has stated that Iran will not deviate from its path of unity and cohesion.
On Sunday (31 May), the media outlet Iran International claimed that President Pezeshkian had submitted an official resignation letter to the office of the country’s Supreme Leader. The report further stated that he had also requested permission to resign immediately through a separate communication.
According to the same outlet, and citing unnamed sources, the letter allegedly referred to restrictions on the executive authority of the presidency. It claimed that key national decision-making processes had effectively excluded the President and the government, creating what it described as a governance vacuum. The report further alleged that, in this context, certain hardline factions within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had assumed control over important state functions, making it impossible for the administration to perform its legal duties.
These claims were presented against a broader backdrop of ongoing assertions in international media and by some officials in the United States regarding alleged divisions between Iran’s civilian government and its military-security institutions.
Iran International had previously reported that the IRGC had gradually curtailed several presidential powers and taken control of key parts of government administration. These reports have contributed to narratives of political and administrative deadlock within the current administration.
However, the Iranian presidency has categorically rejected these allegations. In a statement posted on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Mehdi Tabatabaei, Deputy Head for Communications at the Presidential Office, described the reports as a continuation of foreign media “media games” aimed at undermining internal cohesion. He also dismissed ongoing speculation regarding divisions within the country.
Tabatabaei further stated that those attempting to weaken Iran’s national unity would ultimately fail, reiterating that President Pezeshkian would not step away from serving the Iranian people.
Summary of Claims and Responses
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Reported figure | Masoud Pezeshkian, President of Iran |
| Alleged source of resignation claim | Iran International |
| Date referenced | Sunday, 31 May |
| Main allegation | Submission of resignation letter to Supreme Leader’s office |
| Additional claim | Request for immediate resignation approval via letter |
| Alleged institutional issue | Reduced presidential authority and IRGC influence |
| Government response | Full denial; described as “media game” |
| Official spokesperson | Mehdi Tabatabaei, Deputy Head for Communications |
| Official position | President will continue serving; rejection of internal division claims |