Mojtaba Khamenei Succeeds Father at 56 as Elite IRGC Commanders Guide Iran
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · May 21
Mojtaba Khamenei Succeeds Father at 56 as Elite IRGC Commanders Guide Iran
5 articles · Updated · The New York Times · May 21
Ali Khamenei’s death in an Israeli strike on Feb. 28 elevated his 56-year-old son Mojtaba to supreme leader, but officials and experts say power is now shared more broadly.
A small circle of mostly current or former Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps commanders is guiding key decisions, forming a hardened inner group rather than acting through the IRGC as a whole.
Those men were shaped by the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, rose rapidly through the Guards, and later took control of intelligence and security institutions central to state repression.
Most are believed to have longstanding personal ties to Mojtaba from the years he ran his father’s office, reinforcing a hard-line system after Ali Khamenei’s 37-year rule ended.
With Iran's new leader reportedly incapacitated, who is truly commanding the country's war machine?
As Iran's IRGC pursues total war, are they leading the nation to victory or to its ultimate collapse?
Iran’s Third Supreme Leader: Mojtaba Khamenei’s Controversial Succession, IRGC Ascendancy, and the Crisis of 2026
Overview
In March 2026, Iran faced a major leadership crisis after the urgent need to select a new Supreme Leader during wartime. Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed, but his rise was controversial and unpopular both inside and outside Iran. His leadership quickly took a confrontational stance, especially toward the US and regional neighbors, justifying recent missile and drone attacks. The new Supreme Leader’s statements were unlikely to be welcomed by US President Donald Trump, and his appointment signaled a shift toward a more militarized and security-driven regime, deepening domestic unrest and international skepticism.