The Revolutionary Guard takes full control: how Iran's map is being redrawn

Recently, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei took a critical step—delegating his absolute authority to the Revolutionary Guard Corps. This event signifies not just an administrative transfer of power but a fundamental reevaluation of authority in Iran, rewriting the regional political landscape and changing the rules of the game in the Middle East.

Unlimited Authority: What Delegating Power Means

The key difference in this transfer of authority is that it is not merely an administrative mandate but a complete succession of power. The Revolutionary Guard has gained the right to make independent decisions on nuclear issues, authorize large-scale military operations, and undertake strategic initiatives without mandatory approval from the Supreme Leader or religious endorsement.

This represents a serious strategic rupture in Iran’s state structure. For the first time in modern Iranian history, the military branch has received not only forceful powers but also political weight to make decisions that were previously the exclusive prerogative of spiritual leadership. This military wing’s move symbolizes a transformation of Iran’s landscape toward greater militarization of politics.

Preparing for Uncertainty: Ensuring Succession

This decision also functions as a covert mechanism to ensure political stability in unforeseen circumstances. If the Supreme Leader suddenly dies or is removed, the state will not face a succession crisis. The Revolutionary Guard, with pre-allocated powers, will temporarily take control of the country, maintaining the integrity of the command chain and preventing a political vacuum.

This maneuver indicates that Iran’s leadership is preparing for scenarios with high uncertainty. The decision may have been made under time pressure, reflecting an objective perception of a real threat. Thus, centralizing power in the hands of the Revolutionary Guard becomes a guarantee of the system’s institutional survival, regardless of the personality of the Supreme Leader.

Military Rule Under a Spiritual Banner: A New Phase in Iranian Politics

Delegating authority propels Iran into a new phase, which can be described as spiritually supported military rule. This means that the Revolutionary Guard becomes not only a forceful instrument but also the main body for political decision-making. Such a shift in the power map increases the likelihood of more decisive actions on critical issues such as the Israeli conflict, security concerns in the Persian Gulf, and nuclear program development.

Iran is transforming from a theocracy with a military component into a militarized state that retains external attributes of spiritual leadership. People in uniform, rather than in spiritual robes, now determine strategic directions—at least until the current conflict concludes. This means that future actions will stem not from impulse but from a coordinated, prepared policy ready for implementation.

A Message to the World: Deterrence as Part of Iran’s New Strategy

The transfer of authority sends a clear signal to the international community, especially Israel and the United States. The message is unambiguous: physically eliminating the Supreme Leader will not stop Iran’s trajectory. Instead, power will shift to the most radical faction within the country, which, having full autonomy in decision-making, will act even more decisively.

This rewrites the regional political map, creating a new reality where attempts at destabilization could backfire—strengthening the positions of the most hardline political forces. Thus, Iran demonstrates that it is prepared for any scenario and possesses an embedded mechanism to ensure political succession.

Iran is shifting its cards in the face of uncertainty. The entire region must carefully analyze unfolding events, as they mark the beginning of a new phase in the complex game that is currently rewriting the history of the Middle East.