Lethal elite 'black-clad' kill squad guards Iran's new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei

An elite counterterrorism portion has been deployed to support Iran’s recently appointed Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, pursuing the assassination of his father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Fox News Digital has learned.

The force, known arsenic NOPO — Iran’s black-clad Counterterrorism Special Force — was assigned to safeguard the person aft a U.S.-Israel onslaught connected a Tehran compound connected Feb. 28 killed the elder Khamenei amid the commencement of Operation Epic Fury.

"With Khamenei gone, NOPO volition present beryllium protecting Mojtaba Khamenei," Ali Safavi, an authoritative with the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Paris-based National Council of Resistance of Iran, oregon NCRI said.

The force, formed successful 1991, was initially the "nucleus" of the IRGC’s 28th Ruhollah (Khomeini’s archetypal name) Division, according to Safavi, and typically handles hostage rescue operations.

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Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei receives extortion from elite NOPO unit pursuing his father's assassination successful U.S.-Israel onslaught connected Tehran compound Feb. 28. ( Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

The past of the portion besides includes deployments against interior information threats, and it has often been called connected to suppress protests.

Iran’s Assembly of Experts elected Mojtaba Khamenei connected March 8, 2026, elevating him arsenic the 3rd Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic.

His succession comes amid ongoing warfare with the U.S. and Israel, but truthful far, Mojtaba Khamenei has not been heard from since the commencement of the conflict.

According to The Times of Israel, Iranian authorities tv reported that Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded successful the war, with the reports yet unconfirmed.

"NOPO is the Farsi acronym for Nirouyeh Vijeh Pasdaran Velayat, which translates into the Special Force to Protect the Supreme Leader," Safavi further explained.

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Mojtaba Khamenei; the lad of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei; is seen successful Tehran; Iran; connected Dec. 14; 2016.  (Photo by Reza B / Middle East Images / AFP via Getty Images)

Over time, NOPO has evolved into a highly specialized portion chiseled from the broader Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the subject subdivision established successful 1979 to support the Islamic Republic and its enactment from interior and outer threats.

"The NOPO is composed of six brigades only. Four are stationed successful Tehran, 1 successful Mashhad and 1 successful Isfahan," Safavi said.

"They are acold much lethal, ruthless and well-trained than the IRGC," helium claimed earlier describing however the brigade’s loyalty was exclusively to the Supreme Leader.

"This unit was lone utilized for the extortion of Khamenei," Safavi continued. "They are precise good equipped. Khamenei did not spot immoderate different information unit for his protection."

Safavi besides said immoderate members of the portion were killed successful Ali Khamenei's assassination but that the unit remains afloat operational.

"Some of the NOPO were killed erstwhile Khamenei was killed, but the information is that they are present progressive successful the suppressive and information measures the authorities has besides undertaken successful caller days to forestall immoderate outbreak of protests," Safavi said.

The elite force’s activities widen beyond idiosyncratic extortion successful times of crisis, Safavi added.

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In this photograph obtained by The Associated Press, teardrop state is fired during an anti-government protestation successful Tehran, Iran, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (UGC via AP) (UGC via AP)

"But successful times of crisis, specified arsenic what happened during the January uprising, they were heavy progressive successful opening occurrence connected the protesters," helium said.

This comes amid reports that hundreds of NOPO members person besides been wide deployed astir prisons successful Iran that are holding governmental detainees.

"Hundreds of suppressive forces are wide deployed astir the prison. In Ghezel Hesar Prison," the NCRI said successful a statement.

On Tuesday, March 3, 2026, pursuing the bombing of a subject halfway adjacent Mahabad Prison, prisoners whose ward doors had been locked protested and acceptable occurrence to their blankets, demanding their merchandise nether wartime conditions.

"Suppressive forces responded by firing teardrop state into the ward," the NCRI reported.

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Reports besides indicated NOPO had taken power of Evin Prison successful Tehran pursuing the formation of regular situation officials amid intensified conflict.

In 2021, the U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions connected NOPO for its portion successful committing "serious quality rights abuses against persons successful Iran oregon Iranian citizens oregon residents, oregon the household members of the foregoing."