Iran’s hardline leadership tightens grip as war reshapes regime
Following the death of Ayatollah Khamenei, Mojtaba Khamenei is poised to become supreme leader, while the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps consolidates power, replacing wounded or killed figures and expanding its influence across security, politics and the economy. President Masoud Pezeshkian manages day-to-day governance, but real authority over military and diplomacy remains with the guards and hardline circles. The ongoing US‑Israel war has pushed Iran toward a more hawkish posture at home and abroad, complicating any diplomacy over the nuclear deal.
