The true governing authority in Iran is currently unknown.
Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly since his rushed appointment on March 9, 2026, following the February 28 assassination of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
This unprecedented absence has created a massive power vacuum in Tehran.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has exploited this void to seize de facto control of the Iranian government.
A military council of senior IRGC officers now dictates state policy and actively blocks President Masoud Pezeshkian from exercising executive authority.
While Russian state media claims the new leader is merely hiding for security reasons, independent medical sources indicate Mojtaba Khamenei suffered severe injuries and amputations during the recent strikes.
The Assembly of Experts forced his succession under extreme military pressure, bypassing traditional clerical consensus.
Consequently, major religious figures refuse to recognize his legitimacy.
The Iranian state has effectively transitioned into a military dictatorship managed by the IRGC.
Your Iranian operations face immediate regulatory paralysis. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vanished from public view over a month ago. This unprecedented absence created a massive power vacuum in Tehran. The military initiated a silent takeover of the civilian government. Halt all pending contract negotiations and prepare for sudden policy shifts.
A military council of senior officers has erected a security cordon around the Supreme Leader's office (Iran International). This council actively blocks President Masoud Pezeshkian from communicating with Mojtaba Khamenei (Times of Israel). IRGC Commander Ahmad Vahidi recently vetoed the president's attempt to appoint a new intelligence minister (Indian Express). Vahidi insists the military must manage all critical leadership positions during wartime (Iran International). The civilian presidency faces a complete political deadlock as generals dictate all state policy (Economic Times).
The Assembly of Experts named Mojtaba Khamenei as the third Supreme Leader on March 9 under extreme military pressure (War on the Rocks). The rapid vote bypassed traditional consultative processes and ignored widespread opposition to hereditary rule (Wikipedia). Major religious figures now refuse to recognize his legitimacy (The Media Line). Grand Ayatollahs in Qom and Iraq, including Ali al-Sistani, will not confirm his religious title (The Media Line). Medical sources indicate Mojtaba remains in an underground intensive care unit with severe spinal injuries and amputations (The Media Line).
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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.
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