who is running iran
Iran is currently being run by a mix of military and political authorities, with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) acting as the dominant power behind the scenes, while a temporary leadership structure tries to maintain formal state institutions.
Who Is Officially “In Charge” Right Now?
After the assassination of long‑time Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in early 2026, Iran entered a transitional phase. According to Iranian officials and the constitution, a temporary leadership council was formed:
- Masoud Pezeshkian – President : A 71‑year‑old reform‑leaning politician and heart surgeon, elected president in 2024, is one of three members of the interim council and heads the elected government.
- Gholamhossein Mohseni‑Ejei – Judiciary Chief : A hard‑line cleric who leads the judiciary, representing the security‑state wing within the council.
- Alireza Arafi – Senior Cleric / Guardian Council jurist : A powerful cleric on the Guardian Council and head of the Shiite seminaries, serving as the clerical member of the interim council.
Together, this three‑man interim leadership council is, on paper, responsible for running Iran until a new supreme leader is fully established or the transition is resolved.
What About the Supreme Leader Position?
Mojtaba Khamenei, son of the slain Ali Khamenei, was named as Iran’s new supreme leader by the Assembly of Experts, making him formally the head of state and highest authority in the system. However:
- Intelligence assessments suggest Mojtaba is alive but may not be fully in control or even consistently visible, with some communications appearing only as written statements.
- Reports indicate that orders in his name are often being issued by the IRGC itself, suggesting he is more a figurehead than an independent decision‑maker at this stage.
So while Mojtaba Khamenei is officially the supreme leader , many observers question how much real power he currently wields.
Who Has Real Power Day to Day?
Multiple recent reports point to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as the real center of gravity in Iran’s power structure right now.
- U.S. and Israeli assessments cited by news outlets say the IRGC has been effectively running the regime, issuing instructions and strategic decisions, especially after several top civilian and security figures were killed in strikes.
- Analysts describe a situation in which the IRGC uses Mojtaba Khamenei’s name and role to legitimize its actions rather than taking orders from him.
- Before his killing, Ali Larijani, Iran’s top security official, was reportedly acting as the main decision‑maker; his death deepened the power vacuum that the IRGC has moved to fill.
In practical terms, that means major decisions on war, internal repression, and regional operations are likely driven by IRGC commanders, with the civilian government and interim council managing day‑to‑day administration and diplomacy.
Quick Role Snapshot (Who’s Running What?)
| Position / Actor | Current Role in Running Iran |
|---|---|
| Mojtaba Khamenei (new supreme leader) | Formal head of state and top religious authority, but reportedly constrained and possibly used as a symbolic cover by security forces. | [8][4][1]
| Interim leadership council | Three‑member body (president, judiciary chief, senior cleric) that constitutionally oversees the state during the transition. | [10][2][7]
| Masoud Pezeshkian (president) | Runs the formal government and bureaucracy, manages domestic policy and foreign engagement, but limited by security establishment power. | [9][2][7]
| IRGC (Revolutionary Guards) | De facto dominant force on security, war strategy, and key regime decisions, widely seen as the real power center. | [6][5][4][1][3]
| Other elites (parliament speaker, senior clerics) | Influence succession talks and internal bargaining but operate within an IRGC‑dominated environment. | [7][10][3]
How Analysts Are Describing It
Different outlets and experts frame the answer to “who is running Iran” in slightly different ways, but the themes are similar:
- Some say Iran is in a power vacuum , with overlapping authorities and no single uncontested leader.
- Others describe a dual structure : a formal theocracy with Mojtaba and the interim council on top, and a practical military‑security regime underneath driven by the IRGC.
- A few point to the risk of factional struggle inside the Guards and clerical circles over who will ultimately consolidate power.
Put simply: formally, Iran is run by Mojtaba Khamenei and a constitutional leadership council; in practice, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps currently appears to be the most powerful actor in the system.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.