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00:30Iran's new supreme leader is now under the protection of one of the country's most feared
00:35elite security forces. Following the assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the U.S.-Israel
00:42joint operation known as Operation Epic Fury, Tehran has reportedly deployed its elite
00:48counterterrorism unit, NOPO, to shield his successor, Ayatollah Machtaba Khamenei.
00:54The move comes as Iran remains under intense military pressure and fears grow of further
01:00attempts to target the country's leadership. Machtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of the late
01:06supreme leader, was elevated to the position by Iran's Assembly of Experts following the devastating
01:12strike on February 28. That attack reportedly killed Ali Khamenei, several senior officials and members
01:20of his family. Some reports also suggested Machtaba himself was injured in the strike,
01:26though Iranian officials have strongly denied those claims. Despite the denials,
01:32Machtaba Khamenei has yet to appear publicly or address the nation since his appointment.
01:37Iranian officials say he is safe and sound, but reports indicate he is currently sheltering in a
01:43highly secure undisclosed location with restricted communications. The secrecy surrounding his
01:49whereabouts reflects the extraordinary security environment now surrounding Iran's leadership.
01:56To ensure his protection, Iran has reportedly assigned the NOPO Special Forces Unit. NOPO is
02:03widely regarded as one of the most elite and heavily trained security units in Iran. The black-clad force
02:09operates under the Special Units Command and was created in 1991 to handle high-risk operations.
02:22NOPO has evolved into a powerful internal security force. Over the years, it has been deployed to
02:29suppress major protests across Iran, including the 1999 student protests, the 2019 unrest, and demonstrations
02:38following the death of Massa Amini. Human rights groups have frequently accused the unit of violent
02:44crackdowns on civilians. The name NOPO itself reflects its core mission. It is the Persian acronym for
02:51Niruye Vije Pastoran Vilayet, meaning Special Force to Protect the Supreme Leader and the Regime.
02:59Unlike regular police units, the force is considered highly specialized and fiercely loyal to the leadership.
03:05The unit is relatively small, but extremely capable. According to reports, NOPO consists of six brigades in total,
03:13four stationed in Tehran, one in Mashhad and one in Isfahan. Despite its size,
03:20the force is said to be better trained and more lethal than many conventional units. Some members
03:25of the unit were reportedly killed during the strike that assassinated Ali Kemeni, but analysts say the
03:31force remains fully operational. Since the war began, NOPO personnel have also been deployed around
03:38prisons and sensitive government facilities, likely to prevent unrest or attempts to destabilize the
03:44regime. The rise of Majtaba Kemeni itself remains controversial inside Iran. According to reports,
03:52the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps pushed strongly for his selection, viewing him as a leader likely to
03:58support their hardline policies. Some analysts believe the move could increase the influence of the
04:04military establishment inside Iran's political system. With the war still raging and leadership
04:10security now a top priority, Iran appears determined to shield its new supreme leader — at all costs.
04:18The deployment of NOPO underscores how fragile the situation inside Iran has become, where protecting
04:24the leadership is now just as critical as fighting the war itself.
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