The Israeli attack on Iran this month marked a dramatic growth in a long -term struggle.
But the strike aims to exceed the military goals. In a public address, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called upon the Iranians to get up to describe as “cruel and repressive rule”.
Whether it is intended as a psychological war or a real appeal for rebellion, the message outlined the fact that Iran’s leadership is facing uncertain moments. Years of restrictions, internal disturbance, and now open military conflicts have raised new questions about the work of the Islamic Republic.
Power hierarchy in Iran is notorious. There are uneven councils and offices that increase immense power, but they are assigned or monitored by elected or semi-flesh bodies.
Here is a guide for major data on the top of the political and military hierarchy of Iran and how Shakti is used in Tehran.
Supreme Leader – Ayatullah Ali Khameni
Experts appointed for life in 1989 by Vidhan Sabha
The highest rights in Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khameni holds direct or indirect power on all matters of the state – from foreign policy to domestics politics. He appoints prominent officers, including the head of the state media and the judiciary, and is a representative in almost every major organization.
However, Khamenei was appointed by the public after the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the 1979 revolution. The assembly of experts is an elected body of Islamic clerics, which is worked to select, supervise and – if necessary – to dismiss the supreme leader of Iran.
Article 110 of the Constitution underlines the duties and powers of the supreme leader, including the declaration of war and peace as well as raising armed forces.
President of Iran – Masood Peseshkian
Elected on July 2024
Two months ago, after the sudden death of President Ibrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash, Masaud Pesashkian won the SNAP presidential election of Iran in July 2024. He became the ninth President of the Islamic Republic, which made him the second highest ranking officer in the country after the supreme leader.
Known for his liberal stance, Peseshakian campaigned on limited social reforms promises, renewed with West on Iran’s nuclear program, and addressed public dissatisfaction until the death of 2022 2022, who was arrested even after arresting 22 old Kurdish women Voma in police custody.
The Iranian president serves four years of terms and is responsible for representing the country in day-to-day regime and representing the country in international diplomacy. However, the power rests with the supreme leader, which has authority over the major aspects of military, judiciary and foreign policy. The President cannot overridate the supreme leader on matters of strategic importance.
Reformist leaders such as Peseshkian – and before them, Hassan Rouhani, who broke the 2015 nuclear deal with the Obama administration – has often faced strong pushbacks from conservatives InstituteIncluding the Guardian Council and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). To reduce tension with West by Rauhani, when the US dropped from the nuclear deal in 2018, the office was returned after a decision by the then President Donald Trump during the ENT period in the office.
The Guardian Council
Chairman: Ahmed Jannati, selected on July 2024
The Parent Council has been tasked to ensure that the law passed by the Parliament of Iran complies with the Constitution and Islamic Principles. 12-Meiny body acted as important power: six members Islamic clerics are directly appointed by the supreme leader, while the remaining six are the legal scholars elected by Parliament. Beyond its legislative role, the council left the candidates for major elected bodies including the Presidential, Parliament and the Assembly of experts. This gives great impact on who can participate in Iran’s tightly controlled electoral system.
Ahmed Jannati, a staunch cleric and colleague of the Supreme Leader, has since chaired the Guardian Council. Known for its orthodox views, Jannati has played a central role in vetinging candidates and making laws in line with Islamic Republic Principles.
Rustic council
Another major organization is the Excisecill Discrimination Council, a powerful body assigned with arbitration controversies, Parliament and Parents Council, especially when the proposed laws struggle with the Islamic law or constitution. Its member – included directly by the supreme leader – senior clerics, military officers, former presidents and technocrats. Although for the advisory body, the council often serves as an extension of the rights of the supreme leader, affects national policy and ensures continuity within the political system during internal conflicts or crises.
Revolutionary guard core (IRGC)
Commander-in-Chief: General Mohammad Pakistan, selected on June 2025
Established in view of the 1979 Islamic revolution of Iran, IRGC began as a volunteer militia, working to protect the new established regime. During 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq, it developed as a powerful in parallel military force. After the conflict, the IRGC expanded the major reconstruction efforts and expanded it, which laid the foundation for its growing presence in Iran’s economic and political fields.
Today, analysts estimate that IRGC control between 20% and 40% of Iran’s economy, broadly through its engineering arm, Khatam al-Anibia and wide interests in areas including energy, agriculture and finance-bhant employment and political gains.
Military, IRGC is assigned to defend the governance, both domestic and abroad. Its bases militia monitors internal dissatisfaction, while elite QUDS oversees operations throughout the region. Guards Intelligence Wing rival rival rivalry and plays an important role in combating alleged domestic and foreign threats. Under the supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the political and security roles of the IRGC have expanded considerably.
After the Israeli aerial attack on 13 June, the IRGC commander Hosain salute and many other top generals, Khameni appointed the Iran-Iraq War Brigadier General Mohammed Pakpour-A legendary and IRGC’s long-term chief of the ground forces of IRGC.
Parliament (Majlis)
SPEAKER: Mohammad Baghar Kalibf, selected on May 2020
The Parliament of Iran, known as Majlis, or ICA, is a single room legislative legislature, one of the 290 members selected for a four -year term through direct national elections. Since the first parliamentary session in 1980, Majlis’s composition has changed dramatically. During the clerics over the seats, he created only 5.5% of MPs in 2020.
Majlis has comprehensive legislative powers, including drafting laws, approving the national budget and confirming international agreements. However, its right is limited by the Guardian Council, which brings out all parliamentary candidates and has the power to reject the law that is incompatible with the Constitution or Islamic Principles.
Mohammad Baghar Qalibf, a staunch conservative Conservative, has served as a speaker since 2020 and was re -selected for the post in May 2025. A former IRGC General, National Police Head, and Tehran’s Mayor, Kalibaf is seen as one of the most influential figures in the political establishment of Iran.
Edited by: Rob Madge
