The Generals Who Are Now Running Iran
The New York Times • • nation
Key Points:
- Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, son and successor of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, does not hold absolute power and remains an elusive figure with limited public presence since his appointment in March.
- Key decisions on security, war, and diplomacy are now made collectively by commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and their allies, rather than by Mojtaba alone.
- Sources indicate that Mojtaba acts more like a "director of the board," relying heavily on advice from IRGC generals who function as the main decision-makers.
- Mojtaba Khamenei has been in hiding since an airstrike on February 28 killed his father, wife, and son, and he is currently surrounded by medical staff due to injuries sustained in the attack.
- Access to Mojtaba is extremely limited, and the new power structure in Iran reflects a shift from centralized individual authority to a more collective military-led command.
