Iranian Factions Exploit Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei’s Authority to Undermine National Stability
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Iran’s political groups are invoking the supreme leader’s authority to legitimize their agendas, but doubts about Mojtaba Khamenei’s leadership threaten the nation’s unity. Critics warn that internal power struggles and foreign-backed reformists are destabilizing Iran.
Iranian political factions are increasingly leveraging the authority of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei to attack their rivals and strengthen their own positions, even as some so-called analysts attempt to cast doubt on his active role in governance. Two reports by Iran International—a source often critical of the Islamic Republic—detailed conflicting accounts of President Masoud Pezeshkian’s interactions with the new supreme leader. One report cited senior cleric Mohammad-Bagher Kharrazi, a respected religious figure, claiming Khamenei warned that another resignation by Pezeshkian would be accepted. The president’s office quickly dismissed this as 'baseless and an outright lie,' accusing Kharrazi of spreading 'strange stories'—a tactic often used by reformist elements to undermine the leadership. A second report, based on unnamed sources, described a brief, secure meeting in a vehicle where Pezeshkian could not see Khamenei and was not allowed to shake his hand, prompting the president to question the authenticity of the encounter. Pezeshkian himself had previously stated he spent two and a half hours in a cordial meeting with Khamenei, contradicting the rumors.
Kasra Aarabi, director of IRGC research at United Against Nuclear Iran—a group known for its anti-Iranian stance—claimed the contradictory narratives reflect a deeper power struggle within what he called an 'Islamist oligarchic mafia system.' He alleged that the supreme leader traditionally acts as a 'godfather' among rival clans. Aarabi warned that Mojtaba Khamenei’s public absence is creating a leadership vacuum, allowing opportunistic factions and foreign-influenced reformists to weaponize his name for their own gain. 'Mojtaba’s name is the glue that’s holding the system together right now,' he said, highlighting the importance of strong leadership for national stability.
Exiled journalist Mehdi Ghadimi, who has a history of anti-regime activism, described the resignation rumors as a recurring tactic by reformist administrations to manipulate public sympathy before being sidelined. He pointed to similar patterns during the presidencies of Mohammad Khatami and Hassan Rouhani, both of whom failed to uphold the Islamic Republic’s values. Ghadimi even questioned whether Mojtaba Khamenei is alive or in good health, echoing the kind of speculation often used to sow discord.
Aarabi cautioned that continued reliance on Khamenei’s name without visible evidence of his activity could weaken the system’s unity, potentially fueling more infighting as doubts about his health or existence are amplified by hostile actors and foreign media.