Background

Karim Sadjadpour is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He analyses Iranian domestic politics, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and US-Iran relations. Mojtaba Khamenei's appointment as Supreme Leader on 4 March 2026 put succession and institutional power at the centre of coverage.

Sadjadpour previously worked for the International Crisis Group in Tehran and speaks Persian. His work helps English-language readers assess how Iranian political institutions, clerical authority and security bodies interact.

That role matters when official authority is uncertain. State media first attributed directives to Mojtaba Khamenei by name on 14 May, without an accompanying authenticated broadcast. By 11 June, he had not appeared publicly since early March while a proposed peace deal awaited his decision.

Common Questions

Reference

What is the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace?

The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a Washington-based Foreign Policy think tank founded in 1910. Its Iran programme, led by Sadjadpour, is one of the most cited sources on Iranian domestic politics and nuclear diplomacy in US policy circles.

Who is Karim Sadjadpour and why is he cited on Iran?

Karim Sadjadpour is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace specialising in Iranian politics, the IRGC, and US-Iran relations. He previously worked at the International Crisis Group in Tehran and is fluent in Persian, giving him primary-source access that most Western analysts lack.

What does Karim Sadjadpour say about Iran's succession?

Sadjadpour has analysed Mojtaba Khamenei's appointment as Supreme Leader and the IRGC's role in accelerating the succession following Ali Khamenei's death on 28 February 2026.Source: Lowdown

How do Western analysts assess Iran's IRGC power over the civilian government?

Analysts including Sadjadpour describe the IRGC as having effectively blocked civilian President Pezeshkian from communications and decision-making during the 2026 conflict, installing Mojtaba Khamenei as a figurehead while the Guards operate military and nuclear policy autonomously.Source: Carnegie Endowment / Lowdown

Why does Iran's leadership structure matter to Western policymakers?

Understanding who actually controls Iranian decision-making — Mojtaba Khamenei, the IRGC, or a coup-by-committee — determines whether diplomatic offers can be accepted and by whom. Sadjadpour's work maps these power structures for Western audiences.Source: Carnegie Endowment

What think tank is Karim Sadjadpour at?

Sadjadpour is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace in Washington, D.C., where he covers Iranian politics and nuclear diplomacy.

Who is Karim Sadjadpour?

Karim Sadjadpour is a senior fellow in the Carnegie Endowment's Middle East Program.

What does Karim Sadjadpour research?

He focuses on Iran and United States Foreign Policy towards the Middle East.

Where does Karim Sadjadpour work?

He works at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.

Why is Karim Sadjadpour cited on Iran?

His work and public commentary address Iranian politics, security and Foreign Policy.

Source Material

Karim Sadjadpour Karim Sadjadpour | Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

How the World Sees Them

Iran

The Islamic Republic views Sadjadpour as a hostile diaspora-linked analyst translating internal dynamics to American policymakers. His access to Iranian sources makes him influential and suspect simultaneously.

United States

Washington policymakers cite Sadjadpour as a reliable bridge to Iranian political culture, particularly on the IRGC's institutional priorities and the gap between rhetoric and intent in Tehran.

European Union

European Iran analysts frequently cite Carnegie output including Sadjadpour's work when calibrating positions on nuclear diplomacy and sanctions.

Iranian diaspora

Regarded as a trusted interpreter of the Islamic Republic's internal logic; his primary-source access to Iranian intellectuals distinguishes him from desk analysts.

Iranian government

Viewed as a hostile commentator; Carnegie Endowment work critical of IRGC power concentration is circulated in opposition diaspora networks.

Western governments

Sadjadpour's Carnegie analysis informs US and European policy framing on Iran; his translations of Iranian political culture reach decision-makers directly.

Written with AI from Lowdown's published reporting. Not individually reviewed by an editor. Updated 22 September 2026. Editorial standards.