A September 27 phone call by the American and Iranian presidents was the first in 34 years . The commander of Iran 's Islamic Revolution Guards Corp called it a ` ` tactical mistake '' That is why Rouhani says he has the Supreme Leader 's full backing to negotiate with the world . Alex Vatanka says the IRGC " see themselves as the epicenter of anti - Americanism . But Rouhani has Khamenei 's backing and all the IRGC can do is act as spoiler , he says .
A September 27 phone call by the American and Iranian presidents was the first in 34 years . The commander of Iran 's Islamic Revolution Guards Corp called it a ` ` tactical mistake '' Alex Vatanka says the IRGC " see themselves as the epicenter of anti - Americanism . But Rouhani has Khamenei 's backing and all the IRGC can do is act as spoiler , he says .