The Cracks in the Throne: Power Struggle Erupts as Iran’s Supreme Leadership Falters
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TEHRAN – A quiet but devastating collapse of supreme authority is underway inside the Islamic Republic of Iran. What was once portrayed as an unbreakable system of clerical and military control is now showing deep fractures. At the heart of the turmoil is a reported seizure of power: General Ayatollah Ali Khamenei—a figure bearing the name of the former Supreme Leader but now identified as a commander within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—is said to be wresting control from the late leader’s designated heir, a man referred to as Mottaki (or Maktab Khani, Mojtaba Khamenei, and other variants across sources).
According to intelligence reports analyzed by the SVE4 team, the crisis began with a devastating airstrike on February 28. U.S. and Israeli warplanes bombed a high-value target, killing the original Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (the elder). His son, Mottaki, was pulled from the rubble alive but sustained serious injuries. While officially positioned as the new head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, insiders describe Mottaki as a "shadow leader"—a figurehead with little real power. The true authority now belongs to General Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (a different individual sharing the same name, or possibly a rival general using the title), who is rapidly consolidating military control over the civilian government.
Civilian Government Paralyzed as IRGC Imposes Wartime Rule
Political tensions between President Hassan Rouhani’s administration and the IRGC have reached a boiling point. According to IR International sources, the Guards Corps is systematically expanding its influence, blocking key government appointments and creating a security cordon around the levers of state power. The military has effectively limited the civilian government's ability to operate independently.
A striking example came when President Rouhani attempted to appoint a new intelligence minister to replace an official killed by American and Israeli weapons. The appointment was blocked under direct pressure from Major General Ameer Vahidi, the commander-in-chief of the IRGC. All proposed candidates—including a figure named Mr. Hun Sen, who reportedly played a key role in Iran's security structure—were dismissed. General Vahidi imposed a wartime condition: until further notice, all key security positions must be directly selected and controlled by the IRGC.
Under Iran’s political system, the president appoints an intelligence minister only after obtaining the approval of the Supreme Leader, who holds ultimate authority over national security. However, with the new Supreme Leader—whether Mottaki, Mojtaba Khamenei, or another figure—lacking clear governing authority amid instability, the IRGC has stepped into the vacuum. President Rouhani has reportedly sought urgent meetings with the new leadership several times in recent days, but all reque
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