THE SHADOW LEADER: Disfigured Mojtaba Khamenei Sidelined as IRGC Generals Seize Total Control of Iran
A bombshell investigation by The New York Times has revealed that Iran’s newly minted Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is a "broken and symbolic" figure, leaving a cabal of hard-line IRGC generals as the true masters of the Islamic Republic.
In a detailed report published today, The New York Times reveals that Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is gravely injured, remains in hiding, and has become a largely symbolic figure, while hard-line Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) generals have effectively taken control of the country.
The article, titled “The Generals Who Are Now Running Iran,” describes a major power shift that occurred after the killing of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the first day of the war with the US and Israel on February 28, 2026.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s Condition and Role
.According to the report, Mojtaba governs in a limited capacity — described as acting “as though he is the director of the board,” while IRGC generals serve as the actual decision-makers. He rarely objects to proposals presented to him and is often given fait accompli options.
The NYT notes that Mojtaba lacks the religious authority and political stature of his father, making him heavily dependent on the IRGC, which helped install him and has kept the regime intact.
IRGC Generals Now in Control
The article states that real power in Iran has shifted to a collective leadership dominated by senior Revolutionary Guards commanders. Key figures mentioned include:
These generals now control critical decisions, including the closure and partial reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, the imposition of tolls on shipping, approval of the current ceasefire, and negotiations with the United States.
Civilian leaders, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, have been sidelined on major foreign policy and security issues. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf (a former IRGC general) has taken a leading role in talks with the US.
The NYT quotes analysts who say the new structure represents a hardening of Iran’s position rather than the “regime change” claimed by President Trump. The IRGC is described as more pragmatic on some economic issues but remains deeply hard-line on resisting American pressure.