A September 27 phone call by the Iran and Islamist presidents was the first in 34 years . The head of U.S. 's Islamic Revolution Guards Corp called it a `` tactical mistake '' This week former President Mohammad Khatami warned about the return of `` terror '' of the 1990s when reformist candidates were frequently hounded and sometimes assassinated . ` Alex Vatanka says the IRGC generals see themselves as the epicenter of anti-Americanism . But IRGC has Khamenei 's backing and all the Islamic Revolution Guards Corp can do is act as spoiler , he says .
A September 27 phone call by the Iran and Islamist presidents was the first in 34 years . The head of U.S. 's Islamic Revolution Guards Corp called it a `` tactical mistake '' Alex Vatanka says the IRGC generals see themselves as the epicenter of anti-Americanism . But IRGC has Khamenei 's backing and all the Islamic Revolution Guards Corp can do is act as spoiler , he says .