IRGC, not Mojtaba Khamenei, is in charge of Iran, analysts say

On operational matters, Iranian and Pakistani sources identified IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi as a central figure.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Iran’s leadership structure is shifting following the assassination of Ali Khamenei and the appointment of his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as supreme leader, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps taking a more dominant role in decision-making, according to officials and analysts.

While Mojtaba Khamenei formally sits at the top of the system, three people familiar with internal deliberations said his role is largely to legitimize decisions made by military leadership rather than direct policy himself, according to Reuters.

The structure of power has narrowed to a smaller, more hard-line circle that includes the Supreme National Security Council, the supreme leader’s office, and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which now plays a central role in both military and political affairs.

Iran’s decision-making process has been described as fragmented. “The Iranians are painfully slow in their response,” said a senior Pakistani government official briefed on peace talks between Iran and the United States that Islamabad has been mediating.

“There is apparently no one decision-making command structure. At times, it takes them 2 to 3 days to respond.”

In diplomatic engagement with the United States, Iran has been represented by Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, with Parliament Speaker Mohammed Baqer Qalibaf increasingly involved.

Qalibaf, a former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander, Tehran mayor, and presidential candidate, has emerged during the conflict as a key link between Iran’s political, security, and clerical leadership.

On operational matters, Iranian and Pakistani sources identified IRGC commander Ahmad Vahidi as a central figure, including during the period surrounding the announcement of a ceasefire.

Mojtaba Khamenei was seriously wounded in the strike that killed his father, raising questions about his ability to govern. Two people close to his inner circle said he suffered significant leg injuries and has not appeared publicly, communicating instead through IRGC intermediaries or limited audio connections due to security concerns.

Officials and analysts say the evolving structure reflects a consolidation of authority within military leadership as Iran navigates internal and external challenges.