Kanal13Political circles in Iran and the leadership of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are discussing a possible replacement for Mojtaba Khamenei as the country’s supreme leader. According to IranWire , a decision on a new rahbar could be made after the war ends and a possible deal with the US is reached. The publication’s sources close to various factions within the Iranian regime claim that more and more government officials view the current situation as problematic. They argue that Mojtaba’s continued leadership, which is virtually invisible in public, weakens the state system. For nearly seven months, Mojtaba Khamenei has not been publicly displayed in a format that would confirm his continued presence and involvement in the country’s governance. Written statements read by newscasters, as well as video recordings and photographs, the exact date of which cannot be determined, have been distributed in his name. Another source interviewed by IranWire, a former IRGC official, attributes the ongoing developments in the country to the infighting between various factions within the regime. Specifically, he noted the intensified attacks on former Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and the activity of the Janfada movement. In early September, Rouhani called for public consultations on the continuation of the war.
Following this, pro-government rallies began calling for the former president to be held accountable and arrested. Meanwhile, Janfada, the IRGC’s recruiting arm, is expanding its activities. On September 18, the organization held exercises in Tehran involving the so-called “resistance battalions.” The event featured coffins bearing images of Benjamin Netanyahu and Donald Trump. Now, the organization is not only recruiting volunteers but also conducting military training, effectively duplicating certain functions of army units. A former IRGC official believes that some within the security forces are interested in maintaining the current situation. He argues that individuals associated with the IRGC and the Basij, as well as those economically dependent on them, may view the continuation of the standoff and war as the basis for their own position. In such a situation, he believes, the absence of a strong leader allows them to maintain influence. Basij leader Hossein Taeb claims to be in regular contact with Mojtaba and to keep him informed of the situation within Janfada. However, as IranWire notes, some Iranian officials doubt the veracity of these claims.
The publication’s sources pay special attention to Taeb himself. According to the New York Times, his actions in the Strait of Hormuz in July were one of the reasons for the collapse of the June memorandum between Tehran and Washington. Amid these developments, Iranian officials and military personnel are facing the absence of the previous centralized governance system. For decades, Ali Khamenei personally oversaw numerous issues, from the work of government agencies to individual infrastructure projects and foreign policy decisions. A former Iranian officer said that under Ali Khamenei, his office could issue orders on a wide range of issues, including road construction in border provinces or diplomatic statements at international events. This level of direct oversight is no longer in place. According to the source, Mojtaba’s orders reach officials through intermediaries, creating uncertainty about their content and origin. Mistrust has also increased within the government apparatus, and small groups of officials have begun to interact more closely based on family and personal ties.
