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Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei is increasingly isolated after Israeli airstrikes killed top military advisers.
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Revolutionary Guards chief Hossein Salami, missile head Amir Ali Hajizadeh, and intelligence official Mohammad Kazemi were among the dead.
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Their deaths weaken Iran’s core decision-making team and raise risks of strategic missteps.
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Khamenei’s son Mojtaba is now emerging as a key power player.
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The losses come as Iran faces internal unrest, economic pressure, and rising conflict with Israel.
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is facing one of the most perilous moments of his leadership. As multiple top military advisers from his inner circle have been killed in Israeli air strikes. His leaving the 86-year-old cleric increasingly isolated and exposed to strategic missteps.
Among those killed since Friday are Hossein Salami, commander of the Revolutionary Guards, Amir Ali Hajizadeh, Iran’s missile program head, and Mohammad Kazemi, a top intelligence official. All were key figures in the elite Revolutionary Guards and part of Khamenei’s core advisory group of 15–20 loyalist commanders, clerics, and political insiders who directly shape national security decisions.
Risks of Miscalculation Rise
Sources familiar with Iran’s decision-making process told Reuters that the loss of these figures weakens the regime’s ability to make coordinated decisions, especially on matters of war, defence, and internal stability. One insider described the current moment as “extremely dangerous” for Iran’s strategic footing.
Khamenei, who has ruled since 1989, personally commands the armed forces, appoints military leaders, and holds final say on war declarations. Known for being both stubborn and cautious, analysts suggest his primary objective remains regime survival above all else.
Inner Circle Shrinks, Son Mojtaba Steps Up
With seasoned commanders now gone, Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba, has emerged as a central power broker. A mid-ranking cleric with close ties to the Guards, Mojtaba has quietly coordinated across Iran’s fragmented military and political landscape for over two decades and is increasingly viewed as a potential successor.
Other figures still close to the Supreme Leader include Ali Asghar Hejazi, a top intelligence strategist, and Mohammad Golpayegani, head of Khamenei’s office, along with senior diplomats like Ali Akbar Velayati and Kamal Kharazi. However, insiders say the vacuum left by the slain commanders is irreplaceable in the short term.
Fall of the Axis of Resistance
The loss of internal advisers is compounded by the crumbling of Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” — a network of regional allies long backed by Tehran. Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, a personal ally of Khamenei, was killed in an Israeli strike in September 2024. In December, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown by rebels, further weakening Iran’s regional influence.
A Tense Future for Iran and the Region
With economic pressure from Western sanctions, deepening internal unrest, and now an eroded security command, Iran stands at a crossroads. The Revolutionary Guards, long seen as the backbone of Iran’s regional strategy and domestic control, have suffered a major blow.
Analysts warn that Iran’s response to Israeli aggression could now become more erratic, increasing the risk of regional escalation and impacting global diplomatic efforts, including those led by G7 nations to prevent a broader Middle East conflict.
(inputs- Reuters)
