After the recent assassination of a key Hamas leader in Iran, the Iranian regime has promised that it will retaliate against Israel, who it accuses of carrying out the assassination. The potential for direct confrontation between Iran’s hardline clerical regime and Israel has put the world on edge as fears of a regional war grow.
Here are Five Facts on the Iranian regime.
- The Iranian regime is led by the Supreme Leader, who holds the highest authority in the country.
The current Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been in power since 1989. He oversees the military, including the influential Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), appoints the head of the judiciary, and controls state media. The Supreme Leader appoints half of the Guardian Council, which vets electoral candidates and can veto parliamentary legislation, and members of the Expediency Discernment Council, which resolves legislative disputes and advises on policy. His religious authority further solidifies his position, allowing him to issue binding edicts. In contrast, the powers of Iran’s President, who is chosen in nominally democratic elections, are significantly limited, as his policies and appointments require the Supreme Leader's approval, ensuring the Supreme Leader's overarching control.
- The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) was established after the 1979 revolution.
Established by the first ayatollah, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, to protect the Islamic Republic and its revolution, it has since expanded its influence to include economic and political activities. It actively enforces hardline religious laws that occasionally lead to widespread protests. In Iran’s vital oil sector, the IRGC manages significant projects like the South Pars Gas Field and the "peace pipeline" to Pakistan and India, while the IRGC-affiliated Etemad Mobin acquired a 51 percent stake in Iran’s largest telecommunications company.
- The U.S. government has labeled Iran the “leading state sponsor of terrorism.”
As the lead power of the anti-American, anti-Israel ‘Axis of Resistance,’ Iran funds a network of militias and terrorist groups to operate in the region and worldwide. This includes substantial financial and logistical support to Hezbollah, estimated at $700 million annually, enabling it to maintain a large arsenal and conduct operations in Lebanon and Syria. Iran also supports Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad with weapons and funds, bolstering their capability to attack Israel. In Iraq, Iran backs militias like Kata’ib Hezbollah with sophisticated weaponry and training, while in Yemen, it supplies the Houthi rebels with advanced equipment, including drones. Additionally, Iran has been linked to terrorist activities in Bahrain, India, Europe, and the U.S.
- In 2022 alone, the Iranian government executed 582 people, a 75 percent increase from the previous year, with numerous death sentences issued following protests.
Approximately 20,000 people, including thousands of children, were detained during these demonstrations, which were in protest against the death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died in police custody. Among the dead were at least 44 children killed by security forces. Reports of torture and ill-treatment during arrests and interrogations are widespread, and prison conditions remain harsh. The regime suppresses dissent by targeting human rights defenders, journalists, and activists, often subjecting them to unfair trials and lengthy prison terms. Authorities have also enforced strict hijab laws and utilized internet shutdowns to control protests, while implementing surveillance technologies to monitor compliance.
- By early 2024, Iran had significantly expanded its uranium enrichment capabilities, accumulating more than 1,440 kg of uranium.
This quantity would enable Iran to produce weapons-grade uranium if desired rapidly. At the same time, Iran has reduced the ability of international inspectors to inspect their nuclear program, creating more secrecy at a tense time. Recently, Secretary of State Antony Blinken estimated Iran’s breakout time – how long it would take to produce enough uranium to produce a nuclear weapon – to roughly one to two weeks.
