Appointment of Mojtaba Khamenei as Supreme Leader of Iran very likely indicates that elite cohesion will remain strong in the immediate-term

Indeed, a  February 2026 report by United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI) states that "Mojtaba has shown particular interest in security and military matters and effectively serves as a mini-supreme leader within his father's office." The UANI report also states that within the Bayt-e Rahbari there are informal security and intelligence groups that have historically helped to marginalise and oppose reformist movements and popular reformist politicians. One such informal network includes what the UANI calls the "Habib Ring" and that "Mojtaba Khamenei commands the Habib Ring, which includes members from his previous IRGC battalion, the Habib Battalion." Indeed, as a March 2026 report from the Washington Institute for Near East Policy states, "Mojtaba’s formative military experiences came during the Iran-Iraq War. As a teenager, he served with the IRGC’s 27th Division, mainly in non-combat roles but sufficient to cultivate close camaraderie with other members of his small “Habib Battalion,” many of whom later filled senior positions in the IRGC, intelligence services, and government.