Post-Islamic Republic Iran

Mojtaba Khamenei Supreme Leader and the architecture of power inside the Islamic Republic

The Absent Supreme Leader: The Architecture of Power Under Mojtaba Khamenei

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Introduction: The Leadership Changed. The Machinery Did Not Stop.   On 8 March 2026, Mojtaba Khamenei became Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic, formally placing him at the apex of a political system whose constitution concentrates extraordinary military, political and institutional authority in the office of the Leader. For years, the central question surrounding Ali […]

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Conceptual illustration of Reza Pahlavi in silhouette against a faded map of Iran, surrounded by a network labelled legitimacy, authority, recognition, representation and transition.

The Prince Problem

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Why Legitimacy Becomes Controversial When Alternatives Are Named   Introduction The Moment Transition Becomes Personal Reza Pahlavi legitimacy has become one of the most disputed subjects in discussions about Iran’s future. This is not because Iranians agree on him. It is because they do not. Few political figures generate comparable levels of support, opposition, scrutiny

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Conceptual illustration of a post-Islamic Republic Iran, showing Tehran alongside institutional blueprints, constitutional frameworks and transition planning concepts featured in The Successor Problem investigation by IranSTO.

The Successor Problem: Why Nobody Is Preparing for a Post-Islamic Republic Iran

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Introduction: For more than four decades, the Islamic Republic has occupied a central position in international policy discussions. Governments negotiate with it. Intelligence agencies monitor it. Sanctions target it. Human rights organisations document its abuses. Think tanks analyse its behaviour. Universities study its political structure. Journalists report on its crises. Entire professional ecosystems have emerged

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