The Iranian government is operating without a visible head of state.
Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly since his appointment in early March 2026.
This unprecedented absence leaves a critical intelligence gap regarding who actually governs Iran.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has filled this vacuum.
The military apparatus now controls state functions, sidelining civilian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Recent reports indicate Mojtaba Khamenei suffered severe injuries during the February 28 airstrike.
While the IRGC maintains a security cordon around him, the military is dictating policy.
On April 13, the United States launched a naval blockade of Iranian ports. Iran responded by demanding cryptocurrency tolls in the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, the regime continues a 48-day internet blackout to suppress domestic protests.
The transition to a military dictatorship is nearly complete.
Your Iranian operations face immediate leadership instability and total military control. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei remains hidden one month after his appointment. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps now controls all state functions and policy decisions. United States naval forces blockaded all Iranian ports on April 13 after ceasefire talks collapsed. Freeze all local expansion plans and prepare for severe new sanctions.
The IRGC now dictates government policy and blocks civilian authority. IRGC chief Ahmad Vahidi rejected President Masoud Pezeshkian's cabinet nominations, including his pick for intelligence minister (). The military insists it must manage all key leadership positions during wartime. Furthermore, the IRGC erected a strict security cordon around the Supreme Leader's office. This barrier prevents government reports from reaching Mojtaba Khamenei and blocks Pezeshkian from securing urgent meetings (). The civilian presidency is effectively paralyzed. The military apparatus operates as a shadow government, managing both domestic repression and foreign policy without civilian oversight.
The Assembly of Experts named Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader in early March under intense military pressure (). However, his physical capacity to rule remains highly questionable. Three independent sources indicate Mojtaba suffered severe, disfiguring injuries in the February 28 airstrike (). He is recovering from leg and face wounds. The IRGC forced his selection despite objections from clerics who opposed hereditary succession (). Internal factions are currently trying to purge Ali Asghar Hejazi, a senior security official who opposed Mojtaba's rise (). The regime relies on manipulated images and written statements to project continuity.
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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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