An elite black-clad counterterrorism unit has been assigned to protect Iran's new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, after his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in a United States and Israel strike on Tehran during Operation Epic Fury. The younger Khamenei was elevated to the country’s top post by the Assembly of Experts as the conflict continues, though he has not been publicly seen since the war began and unconfirmed reports suggest he may have been wounded.

The unit, known in Farsi as the Special Force to Protect the Supreme Leader, was formed in 1991 and operates separately from the broader Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Composed of six brigades stationed in major cities, the force is described as highly trained, heavily armed and fiercely loyal solely to the Supreme Leader. Some members were reportedly killed in the strike that targeted Ali Khamenei, but the unit remains operational.

Beyond personal protection, the force has played a significant role in suppressing internal unrest. It has been deployed around prisons holding political detainees and has been accused of using force against protesters, including firing tear gas during recent disturbances. The United States Treasury Department previously sanctioned the unit over allegations of serious human rights abuses.