Iran's National Security Secretary Resigns Amid Power Struggles and Supreme Leader's Public Absence

Iran is experiencing significant shifts within its political and security leadership, revealing internal power struggles in the Islamic Republic. The resignation of Mohammad-Baqer Doa al-Kadr as Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, a key decision-making position, has triggered this upheaval. He was replaced by Mohsen Rezaei, a veteran former commander of the Revolutionary Guards, signaling a potential strengthening of the hardline military faction. However, Doa al-Kadr was not dismissed but reassigned as a political advisor to Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, indicating a strategic redistribution of influence rather than a purge.

Dr. Raz Zimmt, head of the Iran and Shiite Axis program at the Institute for National Security Studies, explained that Rezaei’s appointment could bolster the hardline military wing led by Revolutionary Guards commander Ahmad Vahidi and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in opposition to the faction aligned with President Ebrahim Raisi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf. Zimmt noted that while Rezaei is an extremist, Doa al-Kadr was equally so, and described Rezaei as an opportunistic and experienced politician whose decisions are driven more by personal interest than ideology.

Concurrently, the prolonged public absence of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has fueled rumors about his health and capacity to govern. His office has launched a propaganda campaign to dispel these doubts, including releasing footage of a recent meeting with President Raisi and circulating old videos to suggest ongoing leadership activity. Zimmt commented that the regime’s need to publicly affirm Khamenei’s functionality highlights internal concerns about his absence, which complicates his ability to maintain effective control and intensifies elite power struggles. Unlike his father, Ali Khamenei, Mojtaba appears less able to decisively manage these conflicts, leading to a volatile political environment as factions vie to enhance their standing.