Iran's new leadership, characterized by a younger generation less tied to the 1979 revolution, is adopting a more assertive stance in regional affairs and negotiations, according to experts. This shift marks a departure from the previous generation's cautious strategy.
The current supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is 56, significantly younger than his late father, Ali Khamenei, who was 86. The passing of Ali Khamenei, who had been at the helm for decades, removed a key figure who had maintained a strategy of "no war, no peace." The new leadership, while still focused on preserving the state, appears more willing to engage in conflict and subsequently negotiate, demonstrating a greater willingness to act decisively.
Key figures like the parliamentary speaker and chief negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and the commander-in-chief of the Revolutionary Guard, Ahmad Vahidi, are in their 60s and maintain close ties to the powerful Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). These leaders are described as "children of the revolution," more pragmatic and focused on state preservation than ideological fervor.
This new approach was evident in Iran's response to the 2020 U.S. airstrike that killed Qasem Soleimani. While Iran telegraphed its retaliation before launching ballistic missiles at U.S. bases in Iraq, the subsequent willingness to negotiate an end to hostilities, even on terms that were not seen as humiliating for Tehran, highlights their more proactive strategy.
"They've shown that they're willing to engage in war in a much more aggressive way than the previous generation," said Vali Nasr, an expert on the region. This boldness extends to their post-conflict negotiations, where they appear ready to manage peace on terms they deem favorable.
The leadership transition signifies a new era for the Islamic Republic, with the younger generation poised to navigate both conflict and diplomacy with a potentially more direct and less predictable approach than their predecessors. Their focus is on state preservation and decisive action, a departure from the decades-long careful balancing act of the past.