Why Iran's regime didn't collapse after its most powerful leader was killed

Who really holds power in Iran — and why hasn’t the regime collapsed, even after the death of the country’s most powerful man?

In this explainer, we break down the three key forces that keep Iran’s political system standing:  A Supreme Leader with near total authority, a system designed to crush opposition, and a powerful military force — the IRGC — with enormous political and economic influence.

We look at how Iran’s system was deliberately built after the 1979 revolution to prevent another uprising, why critics say it has become one of the most repressive states in the world, and what this all means for the future — including the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel.