Iran Is More Unified Than Ever
Despite perceptions in Washington that Iran lacks leadership after the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, the country has become more unified under his successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, with stronger coordination among political, religious, and security institutions. The war and subsequent cease-fire have solidified a networked system of power that blends state institutions with public mobilization, particularly through religious performers and youth engagement. This new structure emphasizes unity and rapid decision-making over internal debate, challenging the notion that Iran is divided or directionless. U.S. officials misjudge Iran by assuming weakness, when in fact its leadership operates through cohesive, adaptive networks resistant to external pressure.
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Dispatch The view from the ground. Iran Is More Unified Than Ever The war has deepened Iranian officials’ connections with one another—and with the public. By Ali Hashem, a journalist and researcher covering wars, diplomacy, and political transformations across the Middle East. An Iranian woman sits close to a destroyed vehicle as she watches and listens to a traditional band as it performs to show solidarity with the Iranian people at Hafteh-tir Square, in Tehran on June 23, 2025. An Iranian woman sits close to a destroyed vehicle as she watches and listens to a traditional band as it performs to show solidarity with the Iranian people at Hafteh-tir Square, in Tehran on June 23, 2025. Photo by AFP Iran Middle East and North Africa April 28, 2026, 6:29 AM Iran War Analysis and news. TEHRAN—Many policymakers in Washington seem to believe Iran has lacked clear leadership during the war. Leading the way has been U.S. President Donald Trump, who argues that there is no one in Iran for the United States to negotiate a peace deal with. After the attack that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, he even suggested that he should help choose Iran’s next leader. The suggestion from the U.S. government is that Iran is divided, unstable, and without direction. Recent events in Tehran tell a different story. TEHRAN—Many policymakers in Washington seem to believe Iran has lacked clear leadership during the war. Leading the way has been U.S. President Donald Trump, who argues that there is no one in Iran for the United States to negotiate a peace deal with. After the attack that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, he even suggested that he should help choose Iran’s next leader. The suggestion from the U.S. government is that Iran is divided, unstable, and without direction. Recent events in Tehran tell a different story. Iran’s political system has changed a lot during the war and the cease-fire that followed, but it’s indisputable that the system has held together. In fact, it has become more unified. This unity comes not just from force but also from rallying civilian support, even among those who do not fully support the government. The differences between Ali Khamenei and his son and successor, Mojtaba Khamenei, show how things have changed. The elder Khamenei tried to keep balance among different groups and manage tensions inside the system and adopted a relatively restrained foreign policy that led some to accuse him of sacrificing Iran’s defense after the U.S. assassination of Quds Force commander Qassem Suleimani in 2020. The new supreme leader, on the other hand, is focusing on bringing networks together. He is using both religious and security institutions to create a model where various power centers actively work together, instead of just settling disputes between them. In the war, the younger Khamenei signaled a desire for confrontational wartime tactics, and others in the government, including the military, complied. Their paths to leadership were also different: Ali Khamenei took over after Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini had died and the Iran-Iraq War ended, while Mojtaba Khamenei became leader during an active conflict and after his father was killed. As a result, today’s system values unity and quick action over internal debate. The war did not create this system; it made it visible. For more than 20 years, the younger Khamenei carefully built networks of influence in politics, religion, and security. The first simulation of power was…
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