One week after Mojtaba Khamenei was named Iran's new supreme leader, the public has still not seen him. Analysts say his public appearance may not be crucial - what matters is whether the institutions beneath him function properly.

A key role in this period is played by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), an elite branch of Iran's armed forces formed after the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Analysts believe the Guard can lead the country's military strategy regardless of the leader's physical presence.

The IRGC has powerful influence in the security apparatus and has built a massive business empire with interests in construction, telecommunications, the automotive industry, and energy. The Guard commander reports directly to the supreme leader.

In 2019, the Trump administration designated the IRGC as a terrorist organization. Bahrain and Saudi Arabia added it to their lists in 2018, and the European Union did so this year due to the violent suppression of anti-government protests.