Reuters World News Iran’s leadership, retaliation, travel and oil disruption and Trump’s plan
10 snips
Mar 1, 2026 
Phil Stewart, a national security correspondent on military aims and risks. Edmund Blair, a Middle East editor with on-the-ground analysis. They discuss strikes that reshaped Iran's leadership, uncertainty over succession, regional protests, threats to shipping and air travel, and possible disruptions to oil markets.
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Khamenei Targeted And Killed In Tehran Strike
- Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in U.S. and Israeli airstrikes that hit his central Tehran compound.
- Edmund Blair says the strike on Khamenei looked like the primary target and triggered a broader wave of strikes across Tehran.
Succession Process Upended By Conflict
- Iran faces an unprecedented leadership vacuum with institutions damaged and many senior figures lost or dispersed.
- Edmund Blair notes the Assembly of Experts process assumes stability, but current losses and chaos could change succession dynamics.
Mixed Public Reactions And Regional Protests
- Iran declared 40 days of national mourning with mixed public reactions from tearful grief to celebrations and statue toppling.
- Reuters reports footage of joyous crowds and also heavy protests in Pakistan and Baghdad after the strikes.