The US and Israeli airstrikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei , have created the biggest power vacuum since the country’s 1979 revolution. A temporary council has been appointed to assume his duties, but the real power over Iran’s future rests with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The Guards — separate from Iran’s regular military — preside over a vast empire that spans the country’s defense establishment. They shape military policy and command their own missile and naval forces, as well as key cyber operations, in addition to overseeing construction and critical infrastructure through their powerful engineering arm. They control transport hubs and wield enormous influence in the energy sector, serving as a key broker for buyers of Iran’s sanctioned oil.
Why Iran’s Fate Lies in the Hands of Its Revolutionary Guards
