I read this article more than a decade back. From an Iranian origin political scientist who argued that the IRGC was slowly but surely taking over more and more control of the Iranian state apparatus. This would have consequences on Iranian foreign policy as unlike the army which has a tradtional (or "classical" as he puts it) doctrine, the IRGC is "revolutionary" in its core. The fact that Iran has been taking impulsive/non-traditional actions in recent years can probably be attributed to this growing power of the IRGC. With little accounability and civilian control, it functions as a state within the state.
Of course I take the Iranian diasporas opinions on the Islamic Republic with a pinch of salt as their is much baggage in that relationship. However in this case I think the irrationality of Irans recent actions suggest this theory holds some ground. No rational state which is surrounded by enemies on all sides, escalates tensions with another neutral state.
www.mei.edu
As per Irans own intelligence, the source of the Kerman attack can be attributed to the Taliban in Afghanistan. Seemingly unable to take any significant action on that front, the IRGC it seems came up with the face saving idea of striking Pakistan when it was in the middle of a political and economic crises. The plan has totally back fired.
One of the suicide bombers trained in Afghanistan’s Badakhshan province, Iran’s intelligence ministry said Thursday, marking first time Tehran identified its neighbor as a source of January 3 attack
www.voanews.com