A new report from the NYT claims that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has instructed Ali Larijani to effectively run the country in the wake of the January unrest, ensuring continuity of the Islamic Republic’s rule even in the event of Khamenei’s elimination.
According to the report, Larijani—currently serving as Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council—has been tasked with maintaining internal stability and safeguarding regime survival during a period of heightened domestic pressure and external threats. The unrest earlier this year exposed cracks within Iran’s political and security structures, raising concerns within the leadership about succession and regime durability.
It was further reported that Khamenei has prepared a comprehensive succession framework covering every senior military and governmental command position that falls under his direct authority. This reportedly includes contingency plans for rapid appointments across the Revolutionary Guard, intelligence services, judiciary, and other key pillars of power—designed to prevent any vacuum should senior figures be removed or incapacitated.
The alleged preparations signal that Tehran’s leadership is prioritizing regime survival above all else, institutionalizing a system meant to function even under extreme scenarios.
