Supreme National Security Council (SNSC)
The Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) is Iran's highest decision-making body for defense and foreign policy, serving as the critical junction where the clerical leadership, government officials, and military commanders formalize the Islamic Republic's strategic response to regional crises.
The Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) functions as the ultimate arbiter of Iran's national security interests, operating under the mandate of Article 176 of the Islamic Republic's constitution. It is the forum where the Supreme Leader's directives are translated into actionable military and diplomatic policy. The council includes the President, the Speaker of the Parliament, the head of the Judiciary, and top commanders from both the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the regular army (Artesh). While its decisions require the final approval of the Supreme Leader to become law, the SNSC is the primary engine for managing Iran's most sensitive geopolitical files, including the nuclear program, regional proxy coordination, and maritime strategy.
In mid-2026, the SNSC has taken a central role in navigating the 'Islamabad Agreement' with the United States. This period has seen the council shift from purely kinetic threats to the establishment of administrative frameworks designed to project Iranian sovereignty over international waters. A key example is the creation of the 'Persian Strait Authority' (PGSA), a regulatory body mandated by the SNSC to control commercial transit through the Strait of Hormuz. By requiring vessels to obtain prior clearance and follow assigned routes, the SNSC is attempting to institutionalize Iranian control over the world's most critical maritime chokepoint.
Furthermore, the SNSC secretariat serves as the regime's primary mouthpiece for strategic deterrence. In June 2026, the council issued stern warnings regarding the 'axis of resistance' and the rights of the Iranian people, signaling a 'pre-planned response' to any perceived American breach of diplomatic understandings. For Israel, the SNSC represents the strategic brain of its primary adversary, coordinating the multi-front pressure campaign while simultaneously managing high-stakes diplomacy with global powers. Understanding the SNSC's internal consensus is vital for anticipating shifts in Iranian escalation or tactical de-escalation.