Current whereabouts of Ayatollah Khamenei remain unspecified.
Let's Dish on the Beef Between Israel and Iran's Top Dog, Ayatollah Khamenei
Israel's whirlwind attack on Iran's leadership remains intense, with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declaring that offing Ayatollah Khamenei would put an end to the conflict. In an interview with ABC, Netanyahu stated that a regime change could be the result of Operation Rising Lion, Israel's secret mission launched on Friday, aiming to curb Iran's nuclear ambitions.
According to intel from the military and strategic studies program at the Royal Military College of Canada, Ali Khamenei (the Ayatollah) is lodged deep underground in the Lavizan region northeast of Tehran. Despite several attempts on his life, including an assassination attempt in 1981, the Ayatollah isn't planning on bolting, as it doesn’t fit his ideological mold.
However, eliminating Khamenei might not necessarily mean the end of Iran's Islamic Republic. It's equipped with contingency plans, and given the Ayatollah's advanced age of 86, a change in leadership via a smooth transition seems to be in the making.
The Islamic Republic has displayed remarkable resilience, even after unprecedented attacks on its military figures. While Khamenei is fondly referred to as the Leader amongst Iranian people, questions loom about the longevity of his reign.
Some pundits argue that a regime change can only be achieved internally. The Iranian people are seething with discontent, owing to a severe economic crisis perpetuated by Western sanctions. But repression remains heavy. Despite the death of Mahsa Amini and the subsequent uproar in September 2022, the regime managed to sustain itself.
It's noteworthy that Iranians are a united force, especially when confronting foreign aggression. The Israeli government may need to carefully strategize its next move if it intends to dethrone the Ayatollah, given the potential blowback. A strategic alliance with the United States could tip the scales in Israel's favor, considering the U.S. military's ability to bomb Iran's uranium enrichment plant at Fordo, a key player in Iran's nuclear arsenal.
FYI:
- Change of the Middle East Guard: By executing Operation Rising Lion, Israel aims to transform the face of the Middle East.
- Iran Conflict: The Road Ahead: The world wonders where the Iran-Israel feud is headed.
- Montreal Iranian Women's Association: Call for a Ceasefire in Iran: Women in Montreal demand peace in Iran.
Fun Fact:
According to some reports, the list of potential successors to Ayatollah Khamenei, should anything happen to him, is kept top secret, although some speculated names include Mojtaba Khamenei, Alireza Arafi, and Hashem Hosseini Bushehri.
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The government's strategic move, Operation Rising Lion, intends to alter the political landscape of the Middle East.
Political analysts suggest that a ceasefire in Iran could be a more feasible solution, considering the United States' potential influence in the region's conflicts, especially war-and-conflicts involving Iran and Israel.
