Iran is currently operating under a military regime disguised as a clerical state . Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed on February 28, 2026 .
The Assembly of Experts named his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the third Supreme Leader on March 8 .
However, Mojtaba has not made a single public appearance since his appointment .
This unprecedented absence strongly suggests he sustained severe injuries during the initial airstrikes .
In his absence, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has seized total control of the Iranian government .
A military council now dictates all state policy and manages the ongoing war .
Civilian officials, including President Masoud Pezeshkian, hold no real authority over internal security .
The IRGC has blocked the president from meeting with the new Supreme Leader .
For international businesses, this means Iran's government is highly unpredictable. The traditional clerical checks and balances no longer function.
Companies must prepare for sudden policy shifts as military commanders consolidate their power over the state.
Your country risk models require immediate revision because the Iranian government structure is collapsing. The new Supreme Leader vanished 35 days ago and the clerical succession is failing. Military commanders from the Revolutionary Guard now dictate all state policy without any civilian oversight. This institutional crisis destroys any chance of civilian executive power for the foreseeable future. You must prepare your business for extreme unpredictability and severe new international sanctions.
A military council of senior IRGC officers exercises de facto control over Iran . These commanders erected a strict security cordon around Mojtaba Khamenei . They intercept all government reports before they reach the Supreme Leader . President Masoud Pezeshkian cannot contact Mojtaba despite repeated urgent requests . IRGC chief Ahmad Vahidi actively blocks the president from appointing a new intelligence minister . Vahidi insists the military must manage all critical leadership positions during wartime . The IRGC is also purging dissenting civilian officials . Commanders are currently trying to remove Ali Asghar Hejazi from the Supreme Leader's office . Hejazi previously warned that hereditary succession would permanently sideline civilian institutions .
The Assembly of Experts officially named Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader on March 8 . The 88-member clerical body bypassed normal merit-based procedures under intense military pressure . The United States government assesses that Mojtaba is wounded and likely disfigured . Iran's foreign ministry claims he is safe and blames warlike conditions for his absence . To project stability, President Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi recently walked through Tehran streets . State television broadcasted them taking selfies with supporters . This public relations tactic attempts to distract from the missing Supreme Leader .
This assessment draws from 1 items across 100+ languages items across 100+ languages. Full source list with trust tiers, language coverage, and direct links available to subscribers.
View subscription options →Your Operations Deserve Better Than Yesterday's News
Tell us where you operate. We'll send a sample brief within 24 hours. Free, from Sean, the founder. No sales pressure.
Request Sample Brief See Plans & PricingThis assessment synthesizes reporting from RIA Novosti, IRNA, Tasnim News, BBC Persian, and 40+ and additional sources across multiple languages. Items are verified through cross-referencing across language boundaries.
Multi-language sourcing from 250+ feeds across 5 countries. Updated daily.
See Pricing Contact Us