The Times of Israel Daily Briefing Khamenei is dead. Will the Iranian regime die with him?
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Mar 1, 2026 
Lazar Berman, diplomatic correspondent covering Iran and regional geopolitics. He breaks down the strikes that killed Khamenei, Iran’s retaliatory targets across the region, and why Tehran appears to punish U.S. allies. He assesses succession scenarios, the IRGC’s influence, and whether popular uprising or internal power shifts could reshape Iran’s future.
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Iran Hit Region To Pressure Arab States
- Iran widened its retaliation beyond Israel to hit U.S. bases and regional cities to pressure Arab states to push Washington to stop the war.
- Lazar Berman explains Iran uses short-range missiles (easy to produce) and softer defenses in the UAE, making regional strikes a calculable tactic.
Khamenei Built The Regional Project And IRGC Power
- Ali Khamenei centralized decades of strategic control, shaping Iran's proxies, the IRGC's rise, and hostile posture toward the West and Israel.
- Lazar Berman notes Khamenei made major decisions since 1989 and elevated the IRGC into political and economic power.
Succession Likely Favours IRGC Or Inner Circle
- Succession is uncertain and likely to favor the IRGC or close advisors rather than a clerical heir, creating potential internal power struggles.
- Lazar Berman lists possible successors: son Mashtaba, Ali Larijani, or an IRGC figure, but notes many unknowns about who survived.