Mojtaba Khamenei Consolidates Power by Keeping Wartime Security Chief in Place

Iran's new Supreme Leader reappointed judiciary chief Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei on July 5, signaling continuity with the security apparatus that managed internal repression during the recent US-Israel war. The decree, confirmed via text message during his father's funeral, reflects Mojtaba Khamenei's strategy of leveraging established power structures while consolidating authority. Mohseni-Ejei's judiciary oversaw near-daily executions during the 12-day conflict, reaching execution rates unseen since the 1980s.