Iran faces a severe leadership vacuum following the February 28 assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Assembly of Experts reportedly named his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as the new Supreme Leader in March.
However, Mojtaba has not made a single public appearance. State media only broadcast a written statement from him on April 30.
This unprecedented absence fuels rumors that he is dead or severely wounded.
In this void, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has seized control of the state.
The military now blocks civilian appointments and dictates wartime policy. President Masoud Pezeshkian holds no real authority.
The core question for international observers is no longer who holds the title of Supreme Leader, but whether the civilian government still exists.
Your Iranian operations face immediate leadership and policy voids. Designated Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei vanished from public view after his father died on February 28. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps now controls the country without any visible civilian oversight. Prepare for sudden shifts in sanctions and halt all pending local contracts immediately.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps controls the Iranian government. Military commanders actively block President Masoud Pezeshkian from making cabinet appointments (Economic Times). The IRGC recently stopped the president from naming a new intelligence minister. Pezeshkian cannot secure meetings with the Supreme Leader's office. A severe internal crisis divides the remaining civilian leadership. Senior security official Ali Asghar Hejazi warned that military leaders plan to sideline civilian institutions permanently (Economic Times). The IRGC chief insists the military must manage all leadership positions during the current war.
The Assembly of Experts reportedly voted for Mojtaba Khamenei on March 8 . Sources indicate he received nearly 85 percent of the vote from the 59 attending members . Despite this vote, the regime refuses to publish visual proof of his survival. United States intelligence suggests he suffered severe injuries . Former IRGC commander Mohsen Rezaee went on state television to deny rumors of the leader's death (NCRI). Rezaee claimed the leader remains hidden to prevent Israeli assassination attempts. Hardline clerics and parliament members now openly fight over ceasefire negotiations (NCRI).
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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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