Iran entered a new chapter Saturday after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed, abruptly ending more than three decades of authoritarian rule and setting in motion a leadership transition the regime has long prepared.

A senior Arab diplomat told The Times of Israel that while Khamenei’s demise is a «massive blow» to the Islamic Republic, Tehran anticipated the possibility and took steps to withstand such a scenario.

«Mere survival, at this point, would be considered a victory,» the diplomat said of the regime, according to the outlet, following U.S. and Israeli strikes across the country.

A recent report from the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) outlined three broad trajectories for a post-Khamenei Iran: managed regime continuity, an overt or creeping military takeover, or systemic collapse.

CFR cautioned that even a leadership change at the top would not necessarily translate into meaningful political reform in the near term, given the regime’s deeply institutionalized power structure and its record of using force to maintain control.

The report notes that the real balance of power rests within a tight circle of clerical elites and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

It describes a likely «continuity» scenario as producing «Khamenei-ism without Khamenei,» in which a successor from within the regime preserves the ideological framework of the Islamic Republic while relying on established security institutions to preserve stability.

LEAKED DOCUMENTS EXPOSE KHAMENEI’S SECRET DEADLY BLUEPRINT FOR CRUSHING IRAN PROTESTS

«The Islamic Republic’s constitution includes a succession process. The Assembly of Experts, a clerical body, is constitutionally charged with selecting the next supreme leader,» Jason Brodsky, policy director of United Against Nuclear Iran (UANI), told Fox News Digital. 

«In the interim, should there be a leadership vacancy, an interim leadership council is formed comprised of the president, chief justice, and a member of the Guardian Council selected by the Expediency Council,» he added. «The IRGC is a key stakeholder in this process, and will heavily influence its outcome.»

Over the past three decades, the Bayt-e Rahbari, or the Office of the Supreme Leader, expanded into what a February report by UANI described as a «sprawling parallel state» operating alongside Iran’s formal institutions.

Large crowds gather at Enghelab Square in Tehran, Sunday, after Iranian state TV announced that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli strike. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu via Getty Images)

The analysis characterizes the Office as the regime’s «hidden nerve center,» extending control across the military, security establishment and major economic foundations in ways that make the system’s authority institutional rather than dependent on Khamenei’s physical presence.

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

«The supreme leader today is no longer just one man; he is represented through an all-encompassing institution that consolidates power, manages succession, and guarantees continuity,» the non-partisan policy organization said. «The Islamic Republic’s most enduring strength lies in this hidden architecture of control, which will continue to shape the country’s future long after Khamenei himself departs from the scene.»

Related Article

El presidente de Estados Unidos, Donald Trump, informó que el líder supremo de Irán, el ayatolá Ali Jamenei, murió por los ataques lanzados este sábado por Israel y EE.UU. contra territorio iraní.

“Jamenei, una de las personas más malvadas de la historia, está muerto”, escribió Trump en su red social Truth Social y calificó esa muerte como «un acto de justicia» no solo para el pueblo de Irán, sino también para ciudadanos estadounidenses y personas de distintos países que, según afirmó, “fueron asesinadas o mutiladas por Jamenei y su banda de matones sedientos de sangre”.

Leé también: Video: así fue la “Operación Furia Épica” de Estados Unidos contra Irán

“El plan para destruir Israel ya no existe”, había dicho previamente el primer ministro israelí Benjamin Netanyahu sobre el operativo contra Jamenei durante una declaración retransmitida en la noche de este sábado.

En su comunicado, Trump sostuvo que Jamenei no logró evadir los sistemas de inteligencia y rastreo “altamente sofisticados” de Estados Unidos y aseguró que, trabajando estrechamente con Israel, el líder iraní y otros dirigentes “no pudieron hacer absolutamente nada” para evitar el ataque. Trump afirmó además que otros jerarcas militares habrían muerto junto a Jamenei.

Leé también: El ataque a Irán sacude a los mercados y el petróleo podría trepar hasta los US$100 por barril

El presidente estadounidense señaló que este escenario representa “la mayor oportunidad” para que el pueblo iraní “recupere su país” y sostuvo que sectores de la Guardia Revolucionaria Islámica, las fuerzas armadas y los cuerpos de seguridad estarían desistiendo de combatir y buscando inmunidad.

“Ahora pueden tener inmunidad, después solo obtendrán la muerte”, advirtió Trump, al tiempo que expresó su deseo de que las fuerzas de seguridad se unan “pacíficamente” con lo que denominó “patriotas iraníes” para reconstruir el país.

En su mensaje, Trump también aseguró que, en apenas un día, Irán habría sido “muy seriamente destruido e incluso obliterado”, y confirmó que los bombardeos “pesados y de precisión” continuarán de manera ininterrumpida durante la semana o el tiempo que sea necesario para alcanzar el objetivo de lo que definió como “paz en Medio Oriente y en el mundo”.

En Teherán, testigos reportaron aplausos desde ventanas y gritos de alegría tras conocerse la muerte de Jamenei. Desde primeras horas del día, Trump y Netanyahu alentaron a los iraníes a sublevarse. “Es el momento de unir fuerzas, derrocar al régimen y garantizar su futuro”, dijo Netanyahu. Trump fue aún más explícito: “Cuando hayamos terminado, tomen el poder, les tocará a ustedes hacerlo”.

Además, Trump declaró que tiene “una idea muy clara” sobre quién podría ser el próximo líder de Irán, aunque no dio nombres. Entre los posibles aspirantes aparece Reza Pahlavi, hijo del último sah de Irán, quien aseguró que espera una “victoria final” para reconstruir el país.

Por su parte, las autoridades de Teherán evitaron confirmar oficialmente la muerte de Jameneí. No obstante, el jefe del Consejo Supremo de Seguridad Nacional iraní, Ali Larijani, prometió una “lección inolvidable” a Estados Unidos e Israel.

La Guardia Revolucionaria anunció ataques contra el Ministerio de Defensa y bases militares israelíes, mientras que el ejército de Israel reportó múltiples impactos de misiles.

En Irán, la Media Luna Roja informó al menos 201 muertos y 747 heridos por los ataques, que habrían alcanzado 24 de las 31 provincias del país. Las autoridades ordenaron evacuar Teherán y reportaron decenas de víctimas en distintos puntos del territorio.

La escalada no se limitó a Irán e Israel. Misiles iraníes alcanzaron o fueron interceptados en varias capitales del Golfo, como Riad, Abu Dabi, Doha, Dubái, Kuwait y Manama. Arabia Saudita, Qatar y Emiratos Árabes Unidos afirmaron haberse reservado el derecho de responder. Baréin, sede de la Quinta Flota estadounidense, reportó ataques contra edificios residenciales.

Las hostilidades también amenazan con afectar el suministro mundial de petróleo y disparar los precios. Varios países cerraron su espacio aéreo y Estados Unidos desaconsejó a los barcos comerciales acercarse a la zona.

(Con información de AFP y EFE)

New York City’s socialist Mayor Zohran Mamdani is facing blowback from conservatives on social media over his post condemning the U.S. attack on Iran that led to the killing of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

On Saturday, as a joint strike on Iran by the United States and Israel was developing, Mamdani blasted the Trump administration’s decision in a post on X that has been viewed roughly 20 million times. 

«Today’s military strikes on Iran — carried out by the United States and Israel — mark a catastrophic escalation in an illegal war of aggression,» Mamdani wrote.

«Bombing cities. Killing civilians. Opening a new theater of war. Americans do not want this. They do not want another war in pursuit of regime change.»

Mamdani said Americans prefer «relief from the affordability crisis» before speaking directly to Iranians in New York City.

«You are part of the fabric of this city — you are our neighbors, small business owners, students, artists, workers, and community leaders,» Mamdani said. «You will be safe here.»

The post was quickly slammed by conservatives on social media making the case that Mamdani’s response appeared sympathetic to Iran’s brutal regime and pointing to his lack of public reaction to the Iranian protesters killed in recent years.

«Comrade Mayor is rooting for the Ayatollah,» GOP Sen. Ted Cruz posted on X. «They can chant together.»

OBAMA OFFICIAL WHO BACKED IRAN DEAL SPARKS ONLINE OUTRAGE WITH REACTION TO TRUMP’S STRIKE: ‘SIT THIS ONE OUT’

«Do u say anything pro American ?» Fox News host Brian Kilmeade posted on X. «do u know any Iranians – ? they hate @fr_Khamenei they celebrate his death, you should be celebrating his death ! hes killed thousands of American’s and just killed 30k Iranians, did u even say a word about that? You are an embarrassment !! Please quit.»

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, questions Pam Bondi, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to be attorney general, during her Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing in Hart building Jan. 15, 2025.  (Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

«I don’t feel safe in New York listening to someone like you, Mamdani, who sympathizes with the regime that killed more than 30,000 unarmed Iranians in less than 24 hours,» Iranian American journalist Masih Alinejad posted on X. 

«We Iranians do not allow you to lecture us about war while you had nothing to say when the Islamic Republic shot schoolgirls and blinded more than 10,000 innocent people in the streets. You were busy celebrating the hijab while women of my beloved country Iran were jailed and raped by Islamic Security forces for removing it. 

«And NOW you find your voice to defend the regime? No. I will not let you claim the moral high ground. The people of Iran want to be free. Where were you when they needed solidarity?»

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

«How is it that you can’t differentiate between good and evil?» Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman posted on X. «Why is this so hard for you?»

«It takes a particular kind of audacity, or ignorance, for a city mayor to appoint himself the conscience of American foreign policy while his constituents step over garbage on their way to work,» GOP Rep. Nancy Mace posted on X. «History will not remember his bravery. It will not remember him at all.»

«Iranian New Yorkers are thrilled today and see right through you,» Republican New York City Councilwoman Vickie Paladino posted on X. 

Bill Ackman, CEO of Pershing Square Capital Management LP, speaks during the WSJ D.Live global technology conference in Laguna Beach, Calif., Oct. 17, 2017. (Patrick Fallon/Bloomberg/Getty Images)

«When Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Turkey, UAE, Bahrain all support today’s operation eliminating world’s #1 sponsor of terror, but New York City’s Mayor @ZohranMamdani is shilling for Iran,» Republican New York City Councilwoman Inna Vernikov posted on X. 

Fox News Digital reached out to Mamdani’s office for comment.

Shortly after Mamdani’s post, it was announced by President Trump and Israeli officials that the military operation resulted in Khamenei’s death.

Israeli leaders confirmed Khamenei’s compound and offices were reduced to rubble early Saturday after a targeted strike in downtown Tehran.

«Khamenei was the contemporary Middle East’s longest-serving autocrat. He did not get to be that way by being a gambler. Khamenei was an ideologue, but one who ruthlessly pursued the preservation and protection of his ideology, often taking two steps forward and one step back,» Behnam Ben Taleblu, senior director of FDD’s Iran program, told Fox News Digital.

Related Article