Iran’s leadership survived US-Israeli bombardment. But talks to end the war present a new challenge

A woman holds a picture of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei in a memorial for school children who were killed during a strike on a school in southern town of Minab on Feb. 28, in downtown Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi, File) 2026-04-21T13:30:56Z CAIRO (AP) — After U.S.-Israeli bombardment eliminated Iran’s supreme leader and much of its top echelons, the Islamic Republic’s leadership didn’t fall apart — but negotiations to end the war offer a new test. For decades, the supreme leader successfully managed several powerful factions, bringing to heel those who challenged his authority while listening to rival opinions. It’s now unclear who wields that kind of authority over the collection of civilian figures and powerful generals from the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard who appear to be in charge. They have found unity — for now — by taking a tough line. But disagreements over how much to concede in negotiations with the United States could reveal fault lines, as Pakistani mediators try to host a new round of talks this week. A committee now appears to be in charge In the past, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was able to impose his will on the Islamic Republic’s disparate power centers. After Israeli strikes killed him on the first day of the war , his son Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei succeeded him. But doubts continue to swirl over the younger Khamenei’s role after reports he was wounded in the strikes. Still in hiding, he has not appeared in public since becoming supreme leader and how he gives orders to top leaders is a mystery. At the center of power now is a politburo-like body known as the Supreme National Security Council, which includes Iran’s top civilian and military officials. Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the parliament speaker and a veteran insider with strong contacts on all sides, has emerged as its face and the chief negotiator with the U.S. The late Khamenei began giving more authority to the council before his death, but the war has consolidated its power. (