The Inside Story Podcast Who is Iran's new leader?
Mar 9, 2026
Alex Vatanka, a Middle East Institute analyst on Iranian security; Mehran Kamrava, a Georgetown professor specializing in Iranian politics; Hassan Ahmadian, a Tehran-based political analyst. They discuss who Iran’s new leader is, Tehran’s public reaction, behind-the-scenes power networks, signals to the US and Israel, factional balances and whether the regime can shift strategy to survive.
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New Leader Already Wields Behind The Scenes Authority
- Mustaba Khamenei already commands credibility because he ran many files in his father's office and was presented as having constitutional credentials.
- Hassan Ahmadian notes state media footage of cheering and the Assembly of Experts choosing a leader designed to be institutionally insulated boosted his public appeal.
Insider Choice For Continuity During Crisis
- Mostafa Khamenei has deep ties across the Iranian deep state, especially in media, the IRGC and the Majlis, despite being little known publicly.
- Mehran Kamrava emphasises continuity: the system wanted a knowledgeable insider during an existential crisis.
Appointment Signals Hardline Continuity Over Diplomacy
- The appointment signals rejection of outreach to the US and Israel and a tilt toward hardline institutions, notably the IRGC.
- Alex Vatanka argues this makes the Revolutionary Guards effectively more central to decision-making.