Natalie Kitroff

Right.

You told us last time on the show that the guards were absolutely critical in putting the younger Khamenei in place as supreme leader.

They basically got him there.

And so the reason you're saying that the new supreme leader has less sway over the guards is in part because he's indebted to them.

Is that right?

Right.

That's been a big question mark is exactly how injured?

Yeah, I was going to ask if that's one of the reasons why he hasn't made a public appearance.

I mean, I'd imagine that also limits his clout, but it sounds like he just can't right now.

Hmm.

Okay, so you've described this situation in which there's this empowered group of generals within the Revolutionary Guards who technically answer to the Supreme Leader, but that Supreme Leader is in hiding.

He's badly injured.

He's really hard to get to.

So how do they actually make decisions in that scenario?

Like, how does that work?

And when those decisions are eventually brought to the Supreme Leader through couriers to his hideout, is he essentially being asked to rubber stamp them?

What's his role in this?

Okay.

Talk to me about that, that relationship and that trust.

How should we understand it?