## **The Survival Strategy: Iran Prepares for the "Inevitable"**
The geopolitical temperature in the Middle East has reached a boiling point. Intelligence reports suggest that Tehran now views U.S. military strikes as "imminent and inevitable," triggering a radical restructuring of the Islamic Republic’s command hierarchy.
### **The Four-Layer Succession**
In a move that signals extreme preparation for a decapitation strike, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has reportedly institutionalized a **four-layer succession plan** for every critical political, religious, and military office. This "continuity of government" protocol ensures that even in the event of mass assassinations, the state machinery remains operational.
### **The Rise of the "Shadow" Leadership**
Perhaps the most telling shift is the effective sidelining of President Masoud Pezeshkian. Power has consolidated within an ultra-loyalist circle led by **Ali Larijani**, the newly appointed head of the Supreme National Security Council. Larijani is now the de facto wartime administrator, managing a secret inner circle empowered to make existential decisions should Khamenei be neutralized.
### **Market Implications**
For global markets, this is no longer mere posturing. The transition from diplomacy to **existential defense logistics** indicates that the window for a "soft landing" is closing. Traders should prepare for extreme volatility in energy and safe-haven assets as the region braces for potential kinetic escalation.
