Khamenei Hands Over Military Powers to IRGC as Conflict with Israel Intensifies

Amid intensifying hostilities with Israel and renewed warnings from the White House, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly transferred key military powers to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), elevating the Supreme Council of the Iranian military as the central command authority.

The move follows reports that Khamenei and close family members, including his son Mojtaba, have been relocated to a fortified underground bunker in northeast Tehran, according to intelligence cited by Iran Insight.

The military conflict between Israel and Iran entered its sixth day on Wednesday, with both sides continuing missile exchanges and refusing to de-escalate. The growing crisis has also drawn sharper rhetoric from the United States, with President Donald Trump warning that American patience is “wearing thin.”

In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that the White House knows “exactly” where Iran’s Supreme Leader is hiding. “We are not going to take him out (kill!), at least not for now… Our patience is wearing thin,” he wrote, reiterating his demand for Iran’s “unconditional surrender.”

Khamenei’s Grip on Power Under Strain

Since assuming power in 1989, Khamenei has maintained strict control over Iran’s military and political apparatus. However, recent battlefield losses — including the assassination of top IRGC commander Ali Shadmani in an Israeli airstrike — have eroded that inner circle.

According to a Reuters report citing sources familiar with Iran’s leadership, Khamenei now finds himself increasingly isolated, with the deaths of several senior commanders creating a strategic vacuum within the IRGC and his advisory network.

Israel Signals Endgame Approach

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has suggested that eliminating Khamenei could bring the conflict to a close. In an interview with ABC News, Netanyahu said, “It’s not going to escalate the conflict — it’s going to end the conflict,” in reference to questions about targeting Iran’s highest authority.

So far, the Israeli offensive — launched after strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure — has left at least 224 Iranians dead, while Iranian retaliatory attacks have claimed 24 lives in Israel.

As the crisis deepens, with regional stability hanging in the balance and world powers closely monitoring developments, the concentration of military authority within the IRGC signals that Iran is preparing for a prolonged confrontation.