Iran regime stands despite losses

THE US and Israeli air campaign against Iran has decimated the highest ranks of political and military leadership, destroyed critical military command-and-control infrastructure and fighting capability, and damaged civilian buildings across the country.

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THE site of Israeli airstrikes in the southern suburbs of Beirut yesterday. As the conflict entered its seventh day its regional repercussions continued - with Lebanon reporting the death toll from Israeli strikes had risen to 123. | AFP

(AFP)

In Tehran, the expanding conflict appears to be frustrating the succession process after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed. Khamenei’s funeral was postponed after the group charged with choosing his successor was targeted by Israeli strikes. Following that attack, Iran announced that voting for the next supreme leader would be conducted remotely.

But so far, a week into a war that has now touched 12 countries across the Middle East, major military operations have not threatened the Iranian regime’s grip on power, according to European and Arab officials.

Tran, they say, was prepared for this conflict. The command structures built to survive a decapitation strike appear to remain substantially intact, allowing Iranian retaliatory strikes against Israel, Qatar and Bahrain to begin within hours of the initial attacks. And inside the country since the conflict started, Iranians have reported a heavier security presence in city streets, with Basij paramilitary forces patrolling on motorbikes.

US President Donald Trump has said it would be a “waste of time” to consider sending US ground troops into Iran. “They’ve lost everything they can lose,” he said. He also said he must personally be involved in selecting Iran’s next leader.

Trump said it would be “unacceptable” for Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late Supreme Leader, to take the position. Trump warned that if Iran chose a leader who continued Khamenei’s policies, the US could return to war “within five years”.