Iran's Power Structure is Complex
from Hawk Podcasts Hosted by Hawk
Hawk breaks down the structure of Iran's government following the United States and Israeli military strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who held power since 1989. With American service members already killed and more strikes expected over the coming days and weeks, Hawk walks through how Iran's theocratic government actually works and why the death of the Supreme Leader is so significant. Iran's Supreme Leader holds authority that goes far beyond any elected official. He is commander-in-chief of all armed forces, controls intelligence and national security, can declare war or peace without any vote, and appoints key members of the judiciary and the Council of Guardians. The Council of Guardians, none of whom are elected, determines who is even allowed to run for office in Iran's so-called democratic elections. In the 1997 presidential election, only 4 of 230 declared candidates made it onto the ballot. The Iranian president, while second in power, has authority trimmed by a constitution that subordinates the entire executive branch to the Supreme Leader. Iran is the only country in the world where the executive branch does not control its own military. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC, with 125,000 troops, was built to protect the Islamic Revolution itself and operates with significant autonomy, drawing weapons from China, North Korea, and Russia. Both Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin have voiced support for Iran and condemned the US attack. Only two Supreme Leaders have existed since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The United States just killed the second. SUPPORT & CONNECT WITH HAWK - Support on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/mdg650hawk - Hawk's Merch Store: https://hawkmerchstore.com - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mdg650hawk7thacct - Connect on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hawkeyewhackamole - Connect on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/mdg650hawk.bsky.social - Connect on Substack: https://mdg650hawk.substack.com - Connect on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hawkpodcasts - Connect on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mdg650hawk - Connect on Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/mdg650hawk ALL HAWK PODCASTS INFO - Additional Content Available Here: https://www.hawkpodcasts.com https://www.youtube.com/@hawkpodcasts - Listen to Hawk Podcasts On Your Favorite Platform: Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3RWeJfy Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/422GDuL YouTube: https://youtube.com/@hawkpodcasts iHeartRadio: https://ihr.fm/47vVBdP Pandora: https://bit.ly/48COaTB
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What this episode covers
Hawk explores the complex structure of the Iranian government, focusing on the roles of the Supreme Leader, President, Parliament, and military, especially in light of recent events. Hawk aims to clarify how Iran's political system functions and its implications for international relations.
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