Iran's potential security system enhancement: Khamenei orders successor planning

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is strengthening preparations to respond to potential threats to the nation’s survival. According to a report by The New York Times, Khamenei has issued comprehensive instructions to Ali Larijani, a senior national security official, to ensure the continued governance of the Iranian regime. This move has been confirmed by six senior officials and military personnel, indicating serious concerns within Iran’s leadership.

Addressing Potential War and Assassination Risks

The threats emphasized by Khamenei include both external conflicts and assassination plots targeting the leadership. Iran has faced multiple geopolitical crises in the past, but this directive aims to establish a more organized and long-term continuity system. The strategy is to safeguard the safety of leaders and mitigate uncertainties in power transfer, ensuring that the country’s governance functions remain intact under any circumstances.

Four-Tier Succession Plan to Ensure Continuity

Khamenei has developed a multi-layered succession plan for key military commanders and government positions based on individual authority. This four-tier structure is designed so that even if communication networks are cut off or the leader himself is harmed, governance can continue without interruption. The core group responsible for decision-making is believed to undergo training scenarios in advance for power transfer during peacetime.

From Centralized Power to Distributed Governance

Traditionally, authoritarian regimes in the Middle East have concentrated power in the leader. However, Khamenei’s recent directives suggest a strategic shift toward decentralizing authority to reduce the risk of governance collapse during potential crises. This restructuring of governance systems is likely to serve as an organizational effort to strengthen the long-term stability of the Iranian regime.