Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) is actively positioning itself to secure and expand its power in anticipation of a leadership transition, as Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is now 85 years old While Khamenei's son, Mojtaba, is widely seen as a potential successor, the IRGC is charting a course to ensure its own institutional dominance regardless of who takes power The elite military force is leveraging its control over the "axis of resistance", a network of regional proxies including Hezbollah, the Houthis in Yemen, and various militias in Iraq and Syria, to solidify its influence both abroad and at home
This strategy is being driven by a younger, more aggressive generation of commanders within the IRGC who view regional conflict as a tool for consolidating their political and economic standing within Iran By directing attacks such as those in the Red Sea and against US forces, the IRGC demonstrates its indispensability to Iran's national security, thereby strengthening its negotiating position in a post-Khamenei political landscape
Analysts suggest the IRGC is evolving into a 'state within a state,' with an increasingly autonomous foreign policy agenda that may not always align with the future Supreme Leader's directives This push for greater control risks locking Tehran into a more confrontational military posture, heightening the potential for regional instability. The IRGC's preparations indicate that Iran's strategic direction will be heavily shaped by the Guard's institutional interests, potentially overriding traditional clerical authority and diplomatic channels in the years to come
Yasir Rai
