The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) slammed on Thursday internal sides after they criticized the IRGC and “issued statements that harm unity and stoke division.” In a statement marking the anniversary of its formation in 1979, the IRGC said the actions of these sides “weaken the Guards.” The statement was released shortly after President Hassan Rouhani hailed the military for refraining from getting involved in “political games.” The IRGC said “cementing national security and the regional role” were possible after it “unreservedly” implemented the recommendations of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. It also criticized the “stabs” by some internal figures, which was interpreted as its first indirect response to Rouhani’s criticism against it. Rouhani had on Wednesday commended the Iranian army for implementing the directives of first Supreme Leader Khomeini, slamming the IRGC’s economic role and hailing the army for not “tarnishing its image with corruption cases.” “The military understands politics well, but it did not get involved in the political games,” he went on to say. Rouhani’s praise of the army made headlines across reformist and moderate newspapers. Throughout his 2017 presidential campaign, Rouhani had frequently issued harsh criticisms against the IRGC, describing it as “a government holding a rifle” due to its meddling in the economy and hindering of foreign investment. The IRGC responded by arresting his brother Hossein Feridon on “corruption charges”. Tensions between the two sides eased after Rouhani carried out negotiation with senior IRGC figures before the formation of his second government last year. In Iran, the IRGC is viewed as a military parallel to that of the official army. The military however distances itself from political and economic affairs, which is seen as a factor in its growing popularity against the IRGC, which is in turn incurring increased public scorn. The army does not interfere in Iranian public life, unlike the IRGC that abuses the people’s freedoms through its security apparatus.