Complicated Network of Iran's Political and Military Authority Hierarchy
Tensions between Israel and Iran just took a turn for the worse, with a recent attack marking a significant escalation in their ongoing conflict. But this confrontation goes beyond just military targets. In a public speech, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called upon Iranians to stand up against what he described as a brutal, oppressive regime.
This message makes it clear that Iran's leadership is facing severe challenges. Years of economic sanctions, internal strife, and now open military attacks have put the Islamic Republic's inner workings under scrutiny.
Navigating Iran's political and military hierarchy isn't for the faint-hearted. The power structure is anything but straightforward, with hidden councils and unofficial offices wielding immense power, often under the watch of elected or semi-elected bodies.
Here's a lowdown on the key figures ruling the roost in Tehran.
Supreme Leader - Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Lifetime appointment since 1989 by the Assembly of Experts
At the helm is Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's most powerful figure. He holds sway over all matters of state, including foreign relations and domestic policies. He appoints crucial officials such as heads of state media and the judiciary and has representatives in nearly every major organization.
Starting his reign in 1989, Khamenei took over from Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the father of the 1979 Revolution. The Assembly of Experts, an elected body of Islamic clerics responsible for selecting, monitoring, and if necessary, dismissing Iran's Supreme Leader, appointed Khamenei following Khomeini's death.
According to Iran's Constitution, the Supreme Leader's responsibilities include declaring war and peace and mobilizing the armed forces.
President of Iran - Masoud Pezeshkian
Elected July 2024
Masoud Pezeshkian is Iran's current president, taking office in July 2024 following the sudden death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash two months earlier. As Iran's second-highest-ranking official, Pezeshkian advocates for social reforms, renewed negotiations with the West over the nuclear program, and addressing growing public discontent following the death of Jina Amini.
Iranian presidents serve four-year terms, handling day-to-day governance, and representing the country in international diplomacy. However, the Supreme Leader retains ultimate authority, controlling the military, judiciary, and key foreign policy aspects, ensuring presidents cannot override his decisions on issues of strategic importance.
Reformist leaders like Pezeshkian and Hassan Rouhani, who brokered the 2015 nuclear deal with the Obama administration, have faced staunch opposition from conservative bodies, including the Guardian Council and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Efforts by Rouhani to ease tensions with the West were severely set back when the US exited the nuclear agreement in 2018, following the decision by President Donald Trump during his first term.
The Guardian Council
Chairman: Ahmad Jannati, elected July 2024
The Guardian Council ensures that legislation passed by Iran's parliament complies with the Constitution and Islamic principles. This 12-member body plays a pivotal role in shaping legislation and vetting candidates for elections, contributing to the tightly controlled electoral system in Iran.
Ahmad Jannati, a conservative cleric and ally of the Supreme Leader, has been the chair of the Guardian Council since 1992 and is known for his hardline views.
Expediency Discernment Council
Another influential institution is the Expediency Discernment Council, which intervenes in disputes between parliament and the Guardian Council. Comprising senior clerics, military leaders, former presidents, and technocrats appointed directly by the Supreme Leader, the Council functions as an extension of the Supreme Leader's authority, guiding national policy and preserving continuity during internal conflicts or crises.
Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)
Commander-in-Chief: General Mohammad Pakpour, elected June 2025
Founded in the aftermath of Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution, the IRGC began as a volunteer militia designed to protect the fledgling regime. Following the 1980-1988 Iran-Iraq War, the IRGC expanded into a robust military and political force with substantial influence over Iran's economy and political sphere. The IRGC controls between 20% and 40% of the country's economy, primarily through its engineering arm, Khatam al-Anbiya, and operations in various industries, including energy, agriculture, and finance. Its military role includes defending the regime both domestically and across borders, with its Basij militia monitoring internal dissent and the elite Quds Force supervising operations across the region. The IRGC's intelligence wing rivals official security services and plays a vital part in countering perceived threats domestically and abroad. Following the June 13 Israeli airstrike that killed IRGC commander Hossein Salami and several top generals, Mohammad Pakpour, a veteran of the Iran-Iraq War and longtime IRGC commander, was appointed as the organization's new leader.
Parliament (Majlis)
Speaker: Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, elected May 2020
Iran's parliament, known as the Majlis or ICA, is a 290-member single-chamber legislature elected for four-year terms through national elections. The makeup of the Majlis has changed dramatically over the years, with clerics making up just 5.5% of lawmakers in 2020, compared to over half during the first parliamentary session in 1980. Members with backgrounds in the IRGC have become increasingly influential, reflecting the growing role of military and security figures in Iranian politics. The Majlis wields broad legislative powers, including drafting laws, approving the national budget, and ratifying international agreements. Its authority is limited by the Guardian Council, which vets all parliamentary candidates and has the power to reject legislation it deems inconsistent with the Constitution or Islamic principles. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, a hardline conservative and former IRGC general, national police chief, and Mayor of Tehran, holds the position of speaker since 2020 and was re-elected to the post in May 2025.
- The escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran has gained attention in international war-and-conflicts media, as well as general-news outlets, with a recent attack marking a significant increase in hostility.
- In the face of economic sanctions, internal strife, and open military attacks, Iran's leadership, such as Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian, are facing severe challenges that have put the Islamic Republic's political and economic structure under scrutiny.
- Navigating Iran's political hierarchy is complex, with bodies like the Guardian Council, the Expediency Discernment Council, and the Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) wielding immense power and shaping policy-and-legislation.
- The media landscape in Iran is also affected by the political structure, with key figures like Ayatollah Khamenei appointing heads of state media, which can have a significant impact on the flow of information and public opinion.
- As the conflict between Israel and Iran continues to evolve, understanding the power dynamics within Iran and the roles of figures like Ayatollah Khamenei, Masoud Pezeshkian, Ahmad Jannati, the Expediency Discernment Council, IRGC Commander-in-Chief Mohammad Pakpour, and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf is crucial for understanding ongoing political and military policy within Iran and its response to international conflicts.
