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Six months into Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei's tenure, Iran's military and security apparatus is undergoing a major overhaul after a conflict that claimed the lives of cabinet ministers and senior Revolutionary Guards commanders. However, two crucial leadership roles within the country's intelligence services remain unfilled and undisclosed.

The positions of the Intelligence Minister and the commander of the Revolutionary Guards' powerful intelligence arm are currently vacant. Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh was killed in early attacks, and President Masoud Pezeshkian has nominated Majid Ben Reza as deputy defense minister, with a formal nomination expected. The Intelligence Minister, Esmail Khatib, also died, and authorities have not named an acting replacement since March 18.

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Under the authorization obtained from the supreme leader, the government has one and a half months from Aug. 20 to submit its proposed ministers for intelligence and defense to the Iranian parliament.

President Pezeshkian is facing increasing pressure from reformist allies to quickly appoint a new intelligence minister, one of five cabinet posts requiring the Supreme Leader's approval. Traditionally, the intelligence minister is chosen with direct input from the Supreme Leader and holds a significant position on the Supreme National Security Council, influencing key security decisions.

Lawmaker Abbas Goudarzi revealed that Mojtaba Khamenei has given the government a deadline of one and a half months from August 20 to propose nominees for the intelligence and defense ministries. However, filling the intelligence minister role may require amending current legislation, which mandates the minister possess the religious rank of ijtihad, a qualification that significantly limits the candidate pool to clerics. Goudarzi noted that a proposal to remove this requirement is being considered, which would necessitate a bill to be submitted to parliament.

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The idea was raised that ijtihad should not be a requirement for the intelligence minister.