Who is running Iran? The regime's new strongmen

AFP / France 24
by FRANCE24
March 15, 2026
2 min read

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Iran's new Supreme Leader remains out of sight during wartime leadership changes.

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Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has remained out of public sight amid ongoing warfare, while Ali Larijani has emerged as a visible government figure at pro-regime demonstrations. The leadership transition comes during the third week of active conflict involving US and Israeli strikes against Iran. The strikes have destabilized and weakened Iran's governing structure, raising questions about the regime's command structure. Khamenei's absence from public view contrasts sharply with Larijani's prominent role in rallying government supporters. The leadership vacuum creates uncertainty about Iran's decision-making capacity during active military engagement.

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