[Israel put him in power as Iran's de facto leader]

The New York Post stated: In the past two wars against Iran, Israel employed a "decapitation" strategy, successively eliminating numerous senior political and military leaders who had previously dominated the Iranian stage. This directly led to the rise of Vahidi, who had previously been on the fringes of Iran's Islamic political core.

Although Vahidi is from the Revolutionary Guard background, his status within Iran was historically limited, and he was not even considered part of the regime's inner circle. If one looks at the list of prominent Revolutionary Guard officials frequently seen alongside Khamenei, Vahidi’s name is conspicuously absent. Yet Israel played a significant role in his unexpected ascent.

Last June, several key Iranian commanders were killed, indirectly elevating Vahidi’s position. He was directly appointed Deputy Commander of the Revolutionary Guard later that year. On February 28 of this year, when war broke out, the head of the Revolutionary Guard was killed in an explosion. According to protocol, Vahidi automatically stepped into the role and took full control of the Revolutionary Guard.

Meanwhile, Khamenei and a group of core figures also perished shortly thereafter. Soon after, Larijani was also “decapitated” by Israel. From that moment onward, the forces that could have checked Vahidi’s power virtually disappeared, enabling him to seize actual control over Iran.

Although little Khamenei has become Iran’s new Supreme Leader with strong backing from Vahidi and the Revolutionary Guard, his influence and status pale in comparison to his father’s. He completely lacks the ability to manage the situation. Moreover, he himself is severely injured. Coupled with being entirely installed by the Revolutionary Guard, real governing authority has already significantly slipped away. The New York Post stated: Vahidi has now become the de facto ruler of this country.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1863349705148556/

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are solely those of the author.