Irani minister says "Oman not our choice" as elite forces work "independently"

Iran’s retaliatory attacks against Israel and U.S. interests are reportedly being carried out by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) after the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The powerful military force, which traditionally answers directly to the Supreme Leader, has continued operations despite the sudden leadership vacuum.

According to Iranian officials, the IRGC has effectively been acting independently since the strikes that killed Khamenei and several senior commanders. The organisation, created after the 1979 Islamic Revolution, operates separately from Iran’s regular army and is responsible for protecting the regime and leading many of its external military operations.

At the political level, Iran has formed a temporary leadership arrangement to manage the country during the transition. An interim council involving President Masoud Pezeshkian, the head of the judiciary, and senior cleric Ayatollah Alireza Arafi is expected to oversee state functions until a new Supreme Leader is chosen by the Assembly of Experts.

Even as the political process unfolds, Iranian military responses have continued. Analysts say the IRGC and its regional allies remain capable of launching missile and drone attacks based on previously approved strategies, ensuring that Iran’s retaliation against the United States and Israel continues despite the leadership crisis.