But, thus far, decapitating the regime has succeeded only in replacing one Ayatollah Khamenei with another.
—
Franklin Foer,
The Atlantic,
11 Mar. 2026
After June 2025, when Israel (for 12 days) and the United States (for one) launched strikes aimed at crippling Iran’s nuclear program and decapitating the IRGC leadership, Khamenei curtailed public appearances.
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