Elite NOPO Force Deployed To Guard Iran’s Mojtaba Khamenei After Leadership Transition
Mojtaba Khamenei becomes Iran’s Supreme Leader; elite NOPO unit deployed for his security amid political tension.
Iran has reportedly deployed its elite counterterrorism unit, NOPO, to protect the country’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, following the assassination of his father, former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in a US-Israeli strike under Operation Epic Fury. The younger Khamenei, 56, has not yet addressed the nation publicly or issued a written statement since his appointment on March 8, though Iranian officials have emphasized that he is “safe and sound.”
American media reports, citing the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran, indicate that NOPO, also referred to as Iran’s black-clad Counterterrorism Special Force, has been tasked with safeguarding Mojtaba Khamenei. The unit is widely recognized as one of the most lethal and highly trained security forces in Iran, specializing in riot control, hostage rescue, and the violent suppression of protests.
Formed in 1991 under the Special Units Command, NOPO has a history of involvement in quelling demonstrations, including the 1999 student protests, the 2019 nationwide unrest, and the Mahsa Amini protests. According to NCRI official Ali Safavi, the unit operates six brigades—four in Tehran and one each in Mashhad and Isfahan—and maintains loyalty directly to the Supreme Leader. He noted that some NOPO members may have been killed during the attack that killed Ali Khamenei, but the force remains operational.
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Reports also highlight that the unit’s responsibilities extend beyond personal protection to broader suppressive operations, including deployment near prisons holding political detainees and crowd control during periods of unrest. Safavi described NOPO as more “lethal, ruthless, and well-trained” than the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), emphasizing its elite status within Iran’s security apparatus.
Amid these security measures, concerns over Mojtaba Khamenei’s whereabouts have circulated internationally. The Yousef Pezeshkian, son of Iran’s president, confirmed via Telegram that the new Supreme Leader is unharmed, countering earlier reports suggesting he sustained injuries during the strikes.
Mojtaba Khamenei’s selection, reportedly orchestrated by the Revolutionary Guards, may signal a continuation of hardline domestic and foreign policies, with analysts warning of an increased militarization of Iran’s governance. Observers suggest that the Guards’ consolidation of power could reduce space for moderate political voices and reinforce the regime’s reliance on security forces like NOPO to maintain control.
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