7am Inside the Powerful Elite Forces Running Iran
Mar 11, 2026
Arash Azizi, an Iranian-born journalist and author in New York, breaks down who really holds power in Iran. He explores Mojtaba Khamenei's symbolic rise and why real authority is shared. He maps the IRGC as competing networks, outlines strategic options like compromise or defiance, and explains Tehran's delicate balancing with Gulf neighbours.
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Guest's Family Still Facing Bombing In Tehran
- Arash Azizi describes personal ties to Iran with family still in Tehran experiencing the war firsthand.
- He mentions his grandmother, aunties, uncles and cousins living through bombings and hardship.
IRGC Power Comes From Competing Factions
- The IRGC is powerful but fragmented across rival networks influencing politics, economy and military.
- Arash Azizi explains factions favor Russia/China, others seek Western normalization, and they jockey for control over war policy.
Tactics Often Trump Ideology In Iran's War Decisions
- Tactical calculations, not just ideology, will shape Iran's next moves in the war.
- Azizi notes choices like pursuing nuclear capability or seeking a negotiated middle ground depend on resource limits and enemy responses.