11 March 2026 News | International
TEHRAN — Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has activated a 2007 military doctrine that decentralizes command across 36 autonomous IRGC units, each with independent decision-making authority.The doctrine, created by Major Syed Ali Jafri, was designed to prevent Iran’s collapse if its leadership was eliminated — a lesson learned from Iraq’s rapid disintegration after Saddam Hussein’s removal.Under Mojtaba’s control, all 36 units now operate independently without waiting for centralized orders. Each unit has authority over weapons systems, intelligence, and tactical decisions.Intelligence analysts note that Mojtaba’s personal history — his family targeted by U.S. and Israeli strikes — combined with the doctrine’s autonomous structure creates unprecedented military unpredictability.REUTERS/AP