Mojtaba Khamenei Is Planning for a Long War
The supreme leader’s new government appointments reveal the outlines of his military strategy.
Mojtaba Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, is restructuring the country's military and national security apparatus, preparing for a protracted conflict with the United States and Israel. Since assuming leadership, Khamenei has been appointing senior officials to reshape Iran's military command, emphasizing offensive operations, tighter integration of military, economic, and diplomatic policies, and a more robust deterrent stance.
This trend is evident in Khamenei's selection of Mohsen Rezaei, a seasoned military strategist, to lead the Supreme National Security Council, a role that brings together Iran's military, diplomatic, economic, and security efforts. Rezaei's leadership indicates a firm commitment to maintaining and enhancing Iran's ability to inflict damage on potential adversaries, a policy that supports diplomacy aimed at achieving a durable settlement rather than a temporary ceasefire.
This strategic approach is further demonstrated by the appointment of Ali Abdollahi as the chief of the Armed Forces General Staff, focusing on readiness for various threats, and Ahmad Vahidi, promoted to IRGC commander, with instructions to pursue maximum deterrence and lead powerful offensive operations. These appointments collectively signal a clear shift towards a more aggressive deterrence strategy, integrating conventional, modern, cognitive, and hybrid threats into Iran's military operations.
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