CIA: Khamenei Replacement Will Likely Be More Hardline

The CIA assessed before the strike that killing Khamenei would install hardliners from the IRGC. This assessment was made while the US and Israel prepared for war and built up forces in the region. A joint US-Israeli strike on Saturday morning killed Khamenei at a meeting. After his death, a council led by Ayatollah Alireza Arafi was formed to govern until a new supreme leader is chosen. Despite Khamenei’s death, Iran's military operations continued, targeting various locations including US bases. Unlike past conflicts, Iran is not showing signs of de-escalation; the response is significant. An unconfirmed report indicates that President Trump's ceasefire attempt was rejected by Iran. Trita Parsi suggests Iran believes a ceasefire without inflicting sufficient costs would lead to further attacks. Iran now wants to prove its strength, defying those who saw past restraint as weakness. The assassination of Khamenei inadvertently facilitated this shift in tactics. Iran is determined to demonstrate its power, even at a high cost, demonstrating a change in strategy. This new approach contrasts previous reactions, suggesting a more assertive stance.