The Iranian government is operating without a visible head of state.
The Assembly of Experts named Mojtaba Khamenei as the third Supreme Leader on March 9, 2026 (Wikipedia).
This followed the February 28 assassination of his father. However, Mojtaba has not made a single public appearance in over 40 days (House of Saud).
This unprecedented absence leaves a critical intelligence gap regarding who actually governs Iran.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has filled this vacuum (Iran International).
The military apparatus now controls state functions and dictates foreign policy (Economic Times).
Civilian President Masoud Pezeshkian is completely sidelined (Iran International).
Recent intelligence indicates Mojtaba suffered severe injuries during the February airstrike (Times of India).
The IRGC maintains a strict security cordon around the hidden leader.
The transition to a military dictatorship is nearly complete (Iran International).
Your local operations face immediate regulatory chaos. Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has avoided public view for 40 days since his appointment. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps now operates as a military junta. These commanders dictate state policy and ignore civilian oversight completely. You must prepare your supply chains for sudden legal shifts. Freeze new investments until the military finishes consolidating its takeover.
The IRGC has completely sidelined President Masoud Pezeshkian and the civilian government (Economic Times). IRGC Commander-in-Chief Ahmad Vahidi recently blocked Pezeshkian from appointing a new intelligence minister (Iran International). Vahidi insists the military must manage all critical leadership positions during wartime (Iran International). Furthermore, a military council now enforces a strict security cordon around the Supreme Leader's office (Iran International). Pezeshkian has repeatedly requested urgent meetings with Mojtaba but receives no response (Iran International). The military now directly controls the Strait of Hormuz blockade and all ceasefire negotiations .
The Assembly of Experts officially elected Mojtaba Khamenei between March 3 and March 8 (Wikipedia). This marks the first hereditary leadership transfer in the history of the Islamic Republic (House of Saud). The IRGC Intelligence Organization heavily pressured Assembly members to secure this outcome (House of Saud). Since the vote, the new leader communicates exclusively through written Telegram posts and statements read by state television broadcasters (House of Saud). US intelligence suggests Mojtaba sustained severe injuries during the February 28 airstrike. These reportedly include facial disfigurement and a lost leg (Times of India).
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