U.S.–Israeli joint operations against Iran, launched on February 28, have accelerated the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' (IRGC) dominance in Iran's political structure, shifting power to a decentralized, collective framework where the IRGC is the most influential security institution. The conflict, alongside the killing of Former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the rise of his injured son, Mojtaba Khamenei, has solidified the IRGC's role in strategic decision-making.
A new generation of militaristic leaders, including Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Mohammad Baqer Zolqadr (Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council), and Ahmad Vahidi (Commander-in-Chief of the IRGC), now effectively run day-to-day government affairs. This cohesive military-security core, which also manages diplomacy and escalation, has consolidated authority amidst the marginalization of reformists and a weakened middle class, intensifying a trend present since the 1979 revolution. Zolqadr's appointment, lacking diplomatic experience, further militarizes the system, while Vahidi's influence is paramount.
No comments:
Post a Comment