After Strikes Targeting the Supreme Leader and the President: Key Pillars of the Iranian Regime

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The Israeli and American strikes on the presidential palace and the Supreme Leader’s complex in Tehran highlight the key pillars of the Iranian regime.

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The United States and Israel began striking Iran on Saturday, with U.S. President Donald Trump stating that the aim was to destroy Tehran’s military capabilities and overthrow the ruling system.

An Israeli official said the attacks targeted sites housing Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and the country’s president, Masoud Bezhikian, noting that the results of these strikes “are not yet clear.”

Reuters, citing informed sources, reported the deaths of several senior commanders of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and prominent political officials as a result of the bombardments.

Below are the main pillars of the regime established in 1979, according to AFP:

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The Supreme Leader

He has the final say over the country’s high-level domestic and foreign policies. He is the “Vali-e Faqih,” officially titled “Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolution.”

He is appointed for life by the Assembly of Experts, elected by popular vote, which can remove him if he loses eligibility.

He has the authority to appoint heads of major institutions, including the judiciary, half of the members of the Guardian Council, military commanders, and the director of the national radio and television. As Commander-in-Chief, he controls the security, military, and intelligence apparatuses of both the army and the Revolutionary Guard.

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The position is currently held by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (86), successor to Imam Ruhollah Khomeini, who died in 1989.

He has faced several crises during his leadership, managing them with a combination of “strength” in handling internal protests and diplomatic maneuvering abroad. Challenges have accumulated in recent years, including tightened U.S. sanctions, the war launched by Israel last June, Tehran’s waning regional influence after strikes on its allies, and recurrent domestic protests.

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Elected Officials

Iranians aged 18 and above may vote to elect the president, members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly (Parliament), and the Assembly of Experts.

However, their choices are indirectly limited, as candidates must be approved by the 12-member Guardian Council, whose members are not elected.

The president is elected for a four-year term and officially represents the executive branch, though his powers are limited compared to those of the Supreme Leader, despite his greater public visibility.

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He manages the national economy, a critical challenge under sanctions. The current president, Masoud Bezhikian, has pursued limited domestic reforms and sought to give diplomacy greater weight in foreign policy, within the broad framework set by the Supreme Leader, particularly regarding relations with the United States.

The president appoints vice presidents and ministers forming a government that must gain the Parliament’s confidence (290 seats). The Guardian Council must approve parliamentary legislation before it becomes law. In case of disagreement, the Expediency Discernment Council, composed of prominent figures from Iran’s institutions, intervenes to advise the Supreme Leader.

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Armed Forces

Iran’s armed forces consist of the army and the Revolutionary Guard, both reporting to the Supreme Leader via the General Staff, the highest military body.

The Revolutionary Guard is considered a fundamental pillar of the post-revolutionary regime, constitutionally tasked with “protecting the Revolution and its gains,” while the army is charged with “defending the country’s independence, territorial integrity, and the regime.”

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Over the decades, the Revolutionary Guard’s role has expanded beyond the military sphere, gaining significant influence in the economy, politics, and society, while also executing aspects of Iran’s regional policy, especially regarding armed groups opposed to the U.S. and Israel.

Western countries accuse it of foreign military activities and domestic human rights violations. Some senior commanders were killed at the start of the war with Israel last June, revealing Israeli intelligence penetration deep into Iranian territory.

The Supreme National Security Council is a key pillar in shaping Iran’s strategic policies.

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It is chaired by the president and includes many influential members, such as the heads of Parliament and the judiciary, military leaders, and certain ministers and officials. Its secretary, currently veteran Ali Larijani, contributes to policy formulation and implementation, often in overlapping roles with the president or foreign minister.

Following the war with Israel last year, in which the U.S. intervened, Iran established the Supreme National Defense Council, a body tasked with enhancing military capabilities and defense strategies. Its secretary is Ali Shamkhani, former defense minister and advisor to the Supreme Leader.

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