US-Iran War: Iran's new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has been a target of the US-Israel amid intense war in the Gulf region. Mojtaba, 56, the son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, took charge of the war-torn nation. Now, he is facing a big threat as US President Donald Trump vowed to eliminate the entire Iranian leadership. The US claimed that Mojtaba had been injured in the airstrike, which was later rejected by the Tehran administration. According to NDTV reports, Mojtaba now gets an elite armed force security, the NOPO Force.

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What Is Iran's NOPO Force?

The NOPO force, which is reportedly providing a shield to the Supreme Leader, a special unit of the Iranian police. The elite force is also known as the Counter-terrorism Special Force. Fox News, quoting Ali Safavi, an official with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran, reported that Iran's black-clad Counterterrorism Special Force (NOPO) is likely to protect Mojtaba.

Iran's NOPO Force, which falls under the Law Enforcement Forces, is part of the Special Units Command. Formed in 1991, the unit is primarily trained for counter-terrorism operations, hostage rescue, high-risk situations, and crowd control. The NOPO created headlines after it resorted to violent suppression of the 1999 student protests, the 2009 election protests, the 2019 protests, and the 2022 Mahsa Amini protests. The NOPO plays a vital role in Iran's internal security.

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Speculation Rises Over Mojtaba's Health

Meanwhile, the speculation over the health of Mojtaba Khamenei grew on Wednesday after the son of Iran's president mentioned hearing news about him 'being injured'. He has not been seen since, nor has he given any statement since becoming the Supreme Leader on Monday. In an overnight post on the app Telegram, Yousef Pezeshkian, the son of President Masoud Pezeshkian, wrote: "I heard news about Mr Mojtaba being injured. I asked friends who were in contact. They said, thank God, he is healthy, and there is no problem." He did not elaborate.

(With Agencies inputs)


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