The Shadow Government of Iran: How Hardline Elite Hijacked Power After Khamenei's Death The notion that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death marked a turning point for Iran's hardline elite is an understatement.
His passing has accelerated their consolidation of power and reinforced the country's entrenched authoritarianism.
Behind the scenes, a small group of former senior commanders of the Revolutionary Guard has been pulling the strings since the airstrike that killed Ayatollah Khamenei.