Fresh uncertainty surrounds who is running Iran right now after Donald Trump claimed the country is facing internal divisions and leadership confusion.
Questions over Iran’s leadership structure are growing after Trump said the country is struggling to identify its leader and is divided between hardliners and moderates.
However, several security and policy sources told ABC News that the situation appears more organized than Trump’s account suggests.
Sources said Iran’s decision-making is no longer as centralized as it was in the past. Instead, power is now shared among senior figures closely linked to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), giving the military establishment a stronger role in governing the country.
Trump has repeatedly argued that fractures inside Iran’s leadership are slowing negotiations. But intelligence-linked sources said there is no clear evidence of a serious split at the highest level. Differences may exist over tactics, but core decision-makers remain broadly aligned.
Reports say Mojtaba Khamenei took over after the reported death of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28. However, sources claim Mojtaba Khamenei is in hiding and difficult to contact, making major decisions slower and more complicated.
There are also questions over his health. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he was badly wounded. The New York Times reported he is recovering from severe burns and facial injuries.
Despite leadership uncertainty, sources say Iran’s government remains in control, though pressure on the system is increasing.