U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed multiple times that a regime change has already occurred in Iran, asserting that the deaths of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several top officials brought about this shift. However, reports indicate that Iran’s core institutions of the Islamic Republic remain functional. Following Khamenei’s death, a religious council swiftly appointed his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, as his successor.

Iran’s military, security, political, and judicial authorities have reaffirmed their loyalty to the Supreme Leader’s office and the theocratic system. Although the new leader has not yet appeared publicly, several written statements have been released on his behalf. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), established after the 1979 revolution to protect the regime, continues to lead military operations and maintain significant economic influence through control of natural resources.

The IRGC also retains armed control of the streets through the Basij and other paramilitary forces, underscoring the continued strength of Iran’s theocratic governance structure despite leadership changes.