Tehran, March 11, 2026 – Following the ᴀssᴀssination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in the US-Israeli airstrike on February 28, 2026 (Operation Epic Fury), his son, Mojtaba Khamenei (56 years old), has been appointed the new Supreme Leader of Iran.

To protect him amidst escalating conflict, Iran immediately deployed its most elite special forces unit: NOPO (Nirooye Entezami-e Vije-ye Pasdar – Special Counterterrorism Force), often referred to as the “lethal black-clad kill squad” or “black-clad Counterterrorism Special Force”.

About NOPO

This is Iran’s special counterterrorism force, known for its all-black uniforms, rigorous training, and “ruthless & lethal” combat capabilities.

The unit, comprising six brigades (four in Tehran, one in Mashhad, and one in Isfahan), is considered even more elite and dangerous than some regular IRGC forces.

Following Ali Khamenei’s death, NOPO was tasked with providing 24/7 protection for Mojtaba Khamenei, including strict security measures around political prisons.

Reactions from various parties:

US & Israel: Closely monitoring this move, viewing NOPO as a sign of Iran consolidating internal power and preparing to counter new ᴀssᴀssination threats.

Normal Iranian intelligence sources (NCRI): Confirmed that NOPO was urgently deployed immediately after Ali Khamenei’s ᴀssᴀssination.

This information has been reported and confirmed by many major international sources, reflecting the extremely тιԍнт security situation surrounding Iran’s new leader in the context of a potential US-Iran conflict.