Military Fraternity Influencing Iran’s Decisions

Decision making in Iran largely depends on a select group linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps. When Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s leader for 37 years, was killed by Israel on February 28 during the initial airstrike in the war against the Islamic Republic, his son Mojtaba succeeded him. Despite this succession, the ayatollah’s substantial influence cannot be quickly matched.

Senior Iranian figures assert that Mojtaba Khamenei, 56, handles all vital affairs. However, experts note the decision-making process involves more than just one person. A small elite group of mainly current or former senior commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps appears to guide these decisions. According to analysts, it is not the entire organization that wields control but a determined “band of brothers.” Their experiences during the Iran-Iraq war, which started in 1980, deeply influenced their approach.

The Guards were established in 1979 to protect the nascent revolution and its leader. They elevated these commanders to generals while still in their late 20s or early 30s. Support from the West for Iraq during the war drove home the need for Iran to carve its path regardless of the price.

Afterward, these leaders headed up intelligence or security services. Most maintain some personal ties with Mojtaba Khamenei, cultivated over many years in his father’s office. These men are noted for their rigid stances on not only sustaining the Islamic revolution but also for their stringent tactics in administering the primary branches of governmental repression.