After the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran has entered a new political era. Power is increasingly shifting toward senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, while Mojtaba Khamenei oversees a collective leadership structure that now guides the country’s security, war and diplomatic decisions.
Iran’s New Power Structure: Generals Take Charge After Khamenei
After the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran has entered a new political era. Power is increasingly shifting toward senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, while Mojtaba Khamenei oversees a collective leadership structure that now guides the country’s security, war and diplomatic decisions.
April 25, 2026 | 09:30 AM IST
The big picture
The killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has triggered a major shift in the leadership structure of Iran. Instead of a single powerful supreme leader controlling all decisions, authority is now increasingly shared among top commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Why it matters
Iran’s political system is entering a new phase where military commanders may play a bigger role than clerical leaders in shaping foreign policy, security strategy and negotiations with the United States.
That could influence:
- regional conflicts in the Middle East
- nuclear diplomacy with Western powers
- global oil and shipping security
What’s happening
After Khamenei’s death, his son Mojtaba Khamenei was appointed as the country’s top authority earlier this year.
But unlike his father, Mojtaba has remained largely out of public view.
Instead, decision-making power is increasingly concentrated among senior commanders within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps
What they’re saying
Abdolreza Davari, a former senior adviser to ex-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, described the new system as similar to a corporate board.
“Mojtaba is managing the country as though he is the director of the board,” Davari said from Tehran
“He relies heavily on the advice and guidance of the board members, and they collectively make all the decisions.”
According to Davari, those “board members” are senior Revolutionary Guard generals.
Behind the scenes
Multiple Iranian officials say the country’s new power structure has become more collective.
Sources include:
- senior government officials
- former Iranian policymakers
- members of the Revolutionary Guards
- clerics familiar with the system
Most spoke anonymously because they were discussing sensitive political developments.
The big role of the Revolutionary Guards
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has long been one of Iran’s most powerful institutions.
Originally created after the 1979 revolution, the force has gradually expanded its influence beyond military affairs into politics, intelligence and economic sectors.
Now analysts say the Guards may have their strongest political influence yet.
The bottom line
Iran appears to be moving away from a single-leader system toward a collective leadership model dominated by military commanders.
Whether this structure brings stability or internal power struggles will likely shape Iran’s political future-and its relationship with the rest of the world.
Daniel Carter is a senior international affairs journalist covering geopolitics, global security and Middle East policy. His reporting focuses on power dynamics, military strategy and diplomatic developments shaping the modern world. Carter writes in a concise, data-driven style, delivering clear insights into complex global events for digital audiences.
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