Mojtaba #Khamenei remains at the apex of the system, but 3 people familiar with internal deliberations say his role is largely to legitimize decisions made by his generals rather than issue directives himself.

Wartime pressure has concentrated #power into a narrower, harder-line inner circle rooted in the Supreme National Security Council (#SNSC), the #SupremeLeader’s office & the #IRGC, which now dominates both military strategy & key political decisions, #Iran officials & analysts say.

#Iran is holding an emergency meeting of its Supreme National Security Council #SNSC at the supreme leader #Khamenei’s residence, an event that happens during extraordinary circumstances, acc/to 2 Iranian officials. Gen Ghaani the commander in chief of the #Quds forces (#IRGC) who oversees the militant network of #miltiia is also at the meeting.

per Farnaz Fassihi

#Israel #Hamas #Hezbollah #Haniyeh #war #escalation #RegionalConflict #MiddleEast #GlobalSecurity #geopolitics