Iran's Supreme Leader Appoints Hardline Generals to Top Positions Amid Ongoing Conflict

Six months into the conflict with Iran, the new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has consolidated power by surrounding himself with a core group of hardline generals and clerics. His appointments include reinstating figures previously involved in suppressing protests, countering U.S. hopes for a more moderate regime shift. Among the key moves, Khamenei appointed Mohsen Rezaei as Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council and Ahmad Vahidi as commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Additionally, Hossein Taeb, former head of IRGC intelligence dismissed in 2022, was named commander of the Basij volunteer force, known for its harsh street-level enforcement. This appointment signals the leadership's determination to prevent any resurgence of unrest amid economic collapse and ongoing sanctions.

The new leadership shows little trust in reaching an agreement with the U.S., especially after Iran was attacked twice during negotiations. Rezaei warned that if the economic war continues, "not a drop of oil will be exported" from the Persian Gulf. Meanwhile, President Masoud Pezeshkian continues to advocate for a diplomatic solution and an end to the conflict, highlighting significant internal divisions over Iran's future direction. Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, has not appeared publicly or in recordings since the death of his father, the previous Supreme Leader, in Israeli strikes. Analysts suggest his absence may indicate serious injuries or heightened security due to Israeli targeting.

Sasha Barukhman, a Middle East analyst at the International Institute for Strategic Studies in Bahrain, described the new leadership as a clique of senior officers who have served together for decades. He noted that appointing Taeb to lead the Basij reflects a preemptive strategy to suppress any potential uprisings before they occur, emphasizing the logic of placing someone with an intelligence background at the helm of the force responsible for repression.