Iran foreign minister Abbas Araghchi suggested earlier this month that some units were acting independently.
Over the past three weeks, a wave of targeted Israeli strikes has decimated Iran’s top leadership, raising a critical question: who is now running Tehran as the war escalates?
What began with the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has since expanded to include the elimination of senior security figure Ali Larijani and several other high-ranking officials, leaving visible gaps at the top of the system. Here’s what is known so far and what remains unclear-
Supreme leader succession
In Iran, the Supreme Leader is regarded as the ultimate authority since the Iranian Revolution established the Islamic Republic.
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Following Ali Khamenei’s killing, his 56-year-old son Mojtaba Khamenei, was elevated to the position. A leader, who has long been seen as a potential successor but has never held any elected office, is believed to have strong ties with the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
however, his absence from public view since the strike and reports that he may have been wounded have raised doubts about how firmly he is in control.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu openly questioned the state of Iran’s leadership. “I’m not sure who’s running Iran right now,” Netanyahu said during a news conference Thursday night, AP reported.
“Mojtaba, the replacement ayatollah, has not shown his face. Have you seen him? We haven’t, and we can’t vouch for what exactly is happening there.”
He added: “Iran’s command and control structure is in utter chaos.”
