Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has seen his most trusted military and intelligence advisers wiped out by Israeli airstrikes, leaving the 86-year-old ruler increasingly isolated and vulnerable. According to sources familiar with his decision-making process, the void has raised fears of missteps at a time of unprecedented regional escalation.

Among the slain were IRGC commander Hossein Salami, aerospace chief Amir Ali Hajizadeh, and spymaster Mohammad Kazemi—key figures in Iran’s nuclear and military apparatus.

Growing Influence of Mojtaba Khamenei

With the decimation of his core team, Khamenei’s mid-ranking cleric son Mojtaba has emerged as a central player in Tehran’s war management. Long seen as his father’s shadow advisor, Mojtaba now coordinates across Iran’s military and political institutions, building on deep ties with the Revolutionary Guards.

He is increasingly considered a possible successor to the Supreme Leader.

Strategic Errors Now a Major Risk

Officials close to Khamenei warn that the thinning of his inner circle increases the likelihood of poor strategic choices. “It’s extremely dangerous,” one adviser told Reuters. Analysts say the vacuum could lead to impulsive moves or delays in key decisions on defense and diplomacy.

Still, Khamenei remains cautious and deeply committed to preserving the Islamic Republic’s system. His reputation for careful, survival-focused leadership has kept him in power since 1989.

Israeli Strikes Expand Beyond Military Targets

Israeli strikes have expanded beyond nuclear infrastructure, hitting state TV during a live broadcast and decimating Iran’s broader Axis of Resistance network. Hezbollah’s leader was killed last year; Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in December.

Yet insiders insist that some trusted civilian advisers remain active, including Ali Akbar Velayati, Kamal Kharazi, and Ali Larijani, suggesting Tehran’s strategic apparatus—though bruised—is still functioning.