Who Is Really Running Iran? Inside 'Shadow General' Ahmad Vahidi's Rise To Power

Last Updated:April 24, 2026, 14:34 IST

Under Vahidi, Iran’s posture has hardened visibly, with the most significant being the refusal to reopen strategic routes like the Strait of Hormuz

The war has reshaped power structures in Iran, giving rise to a key question: Who is actually calling the shots in Tehran?

On paper, the system remains intact with a Supreme Leader, a president, and formal institutions. However, in reality, multiple reports now point to one man at the centre of decision-making—Ahmad Vahidi.

Vahidi is not new to Iran’s power structure. A long-time commander in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, he served as former head of the elite Quds Force as well as ex-defence and interior minister. But 2026 changed everything.

After a wave of US-Israeli strikes killed key Iranian leaders, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Vahidi was elevated to head the IRGC and rapidly became the most influential figure in the system, The Economic Times reported.

According to ET, he now “calls the shots" across both military strategy and political decision-making.

A Power Vacuum After War

The trigger for this shift was a decapitation of Iran’s leadership. Senior commanders were killed, political leadership weakened, and decision-making structures disrupted. Even though Mojtaba Khamenei formally took over as Supreme Leader, his authority is widely seen as limited.

According to a report by New York Times, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since assuming charge, is surrounded mostly by a team of doctors and medical staff who are treating the injuries he sustained in the airstrikes that killed his father and other family members. The report quoted four senior Iranian officials familiar with his health saying that one of his legs was operated on three times and he is now awaiting a prosthetic leg. His face and lips have also been burned severely, making it difficult for him to speak, the officials said, adding that, eventually, he will need plastic surgery.

It is this leadership vacuum where the IRGC—and Vahidi—stepped in.

The IRGC Takeover

The IRGC now dominates security, governance, and diplomacy in Iran. The civilian leadership has been sidelined and even ministerial appointments are reportedly being blocked or controlled. A Times of India report says the military has “tightened its grip over state functions", limiting the role of elected officials.

In effect, this means Iran is shifting from clerical rule to military-backed control.

Is Vahidi Blocking Peace Talks?

One of the biggest global implications of Vahidi’s rise is on diplomacy.

According to New York Post, the IRGC chief has taken control of negotiation strategy, with hardliners monitoring the negotiating team and moderates pushing for compromise sidelined. He is now being described as a key obstacle to a potential US-Iran peace deal, with a more confrontational approach dominating policy.

Under Vahidi, Iran’s posture has hardened visibly, with the most significant being the refusal to reopen strategic routes like the Strait of Hormuz. There are more aggressive regional actions and resistance to renewed negotiations despite pressure from the international community.

Given the pushback, some analyses suggest the Supreme Leader risks becoming a figurehead, with real authority concentrated within the IRGC leadership structure.

Vahidi is not just a domestic power player; his profile has global implications. The IRGC chief has been linked to past international terror cases and is under sanctions. His deep involvement in Iran’s missile and security apparatus and strong ideological alignment with hardline factions makes him a bigger problem for the United States and the world.

His rise signals that Iran is likely to take a tougher negotiating stance, escalate strategically when pressured, and prioritise security over diplomacy.

Simply put, Iran hasn’t formally changed its system but in practice, it is undergoing a quiet power shift from clerical authority to military dominance. And at the heart of that transition is one figure—Ahmad Vahidi—the general who may now matter more than the state itself.

News explainers Who Is Really Running Iran? Inside 'Shadow General' Ahmad Vahidi's Rise To Power

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