Mojtaba's Rise Unlikely To End Iran Power Struggle As Larijani Emerges Key Challenger | Exclusive

Last Updated:March 09, 2026, 10:26 IST

Tensions reportedly intensified between Larijani and Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is viewed as a supporter of Mojtaba Khamenei

The elevation of Mojtaba Khamenei as Iran’s new Supreme Leader may not resolve the deep power struggle unfolding inside the Islamic Republic, with influential political figure Ali Larijani emerging as a central obstacle to a smooth transition, according to intelligence sources and regional observers.

Sources indicate that while key clerical bodies have internally moved toward Mojtaba, divisions among Iran’s political and security elite are likely to persist, raising the possibility that the internal contest for influence will continue even after the succession decision.

Several Iranian clerics and officials have privately indicated that voting within the powerful Assembly of Experts has already taken place and that a decision on leadership transition has effectively been finalised. However, insiders say the announcement has been complicated by factional rivalries and concerns about regime stability.

Larijani as the Main Obstacle

At the centre of the internal conflict is Ali Larijani, a long-time regime insider whose political network and clerical standing continue to give him significant influence across Iran’s executive and security establishment.

Before the anticipated announcement of Mojtaba’s elevation, tensions reportedly intensified between Larijani and Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, who is widely viewed as a supporter of Mojtaba.

According to sources and media reports, the rivalry between the two camps—both with deep ties to Iran’s political and security institutions—has been a major factor complicating the leadership transition.

An insider familiar with the internal discussions described the situation as a “deep rift" within the regime over how the succession should unfold and who will ultimately control the levers of power once the transition takes place.

Dynastic Concerns Inside the System

Mojtaba’s potential elevation has also sparked ideological concerns within parts of Iran’s clerical establishment.

According to sources, some senior figures fear that elevating the son of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei would appear as a dynastic transfer of power—a move that could undermine the Islamic Republic’s long-standing claim of clerical legitimacy and revolutionary governance.

These concerns have added another layer of tension to an already sensitive leadership transition.

Larijani’s Political Comeback

Despite facing serious corruption allegations in recent years that nearly pushed him out of the leadership race, Larijani is now seen as attempting to reassert his family’s influence within the system.

Sources say the powerful Larijani family is seeking to maintain its political relevance through Ali Larijani’s clerical lineage and religious standing.

Some insiders also allege that Larijani played a central role in designing the suppression of the nationwide protests in December 2025—a move that, according to analysts, may have been aimed at strengthening his credentials within the regime’s security establishment and positioning himself in the succession struggle.

Regime Seeking Controlled Transition

Top intelligence sources say Iran’s clerical and security leadership, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and key security councils, are now focused on crafting a “survival model" for the supreme leadership that prevents a destabilising public power vacuum.

The regime’s top priority, according to these sources, is maintaining internal order and presenting a unified leadership structure at a time of heightened external pressure.

Officials believe any visible rift inside the leadership could embolden domestic protests and external adversaries.

War and Domestic Stability

The leadership struggle is unfolding as Iran faces a complex security environment marked by domestic unrest, attacks on critical infrastructure such as oil refineries, and increasing confrontation with the United States and Israel.

Sources say Iranian leaders believe their adversaries are seeking to exploit internal instability to trigger wider protests.

As a result, the regime’s immediate priority is preventing any internal fragmentation and ensuring that law and order is maintained across the country.

Analysts say Tehran’s ability to manage external pressure, including its regional proxy networks, will depend heavily on maintaining stability at home.

Even if Mojtaba’s elevation is formally confirmed, insiders say the rivalry with Larijani and other power centres suggests the internal contest for influence within Iran’s leadership is far from over.

News world Mojtaba's Rise Unlikely To End Iran Power Struggle As Larijani Emerges Key Challenger | Exclusive

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