Ali Khamenei

March 9, 2026 | |

Mojtaba Khamenei Replaces His Father as Supreme Leader of Iran’s Clerical Regime

Iranians Urged To Pledge Allegiance to New Leader: Mojtaba Khamenei, the 56-year-old son of eliminated Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been appointed to replace his father. Iran’s Assembly of Experts released a statement calling on Iranians to “keep unity and pledge allegiance to the new supreme leader.” Trump Says ‘He’s Not Going To Last Long’: President Donald Trump said that Iran is “going to have to get approval from us” regarding the appointment of its next leader. “If he doesn’t get approval from us, he’s not going to last long. We want to make sure that we don’t have to go back every 10 years, when you don’t have a president like me that’s not going to do it,” Trump stated. More Hardline Than His Father: “Mojtaba is expected to be more hardline than his father, and his ascent means the Iranian regime may get more repressive,” Axios observed. The younger Khamenei was sanctioned by the United States in 2019 for having “acted for or on behalf of” his father.

Flash Briefs

March 8, 2026 | Edmund Fitton-Brown, Bridget Toomey

Action on Another Front: Strikes on Pro-Tehran Militias in Iraq

Air strikes, likely conducted as part of American-Israeli operations, are hitting Iran-backed Shiite militias in Iraq, but no one is taking credit. The militias themselves claim to have launched dozens...

Policy Briefs

March 7, 2026 | David Daoud |

Israel strikes over 500 targets in Lebanon, issues evac orders in renewed war with Hezbollah (March 2–6)

The November 27, 2024, ceasefire agreement signed by Israel and Lebanon, negotiating on behalf of Hezbollah, finally broke down completely. In the early morning hours of March 2, 2026, Hezbollah’s forces...

Op-eds

March 6, 2026 | Justin Leopold-Cohen, Ryan Brobst

Similarities and differences in US and Israeli targets and objectives in Iran campaign

The US and Israel have cooperated to achieve impressive operational successes against Iran, but a mutually shared definition of victory remains elusive. This inconsistency and lack of clarity could undermine...

Op-eds

March 6, 2026 | |

Trump Demands Tehran Regime’s ‘Unconditional Surrender’

Trump Emphasizes ‘No Deal’ With Regime: President Donald Trump said on March 6 that the United States would make “no deal with Iran except UNCONDITIONAL SURRENDER.” Trump...

Flash Briefs

March 6, 2026 | Janatan Sayeh |

Who Is Mojtaba Khamenei?

If chosen to succeed his father as Iran’s supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei will seal the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ dominance over the Islamic Republic.

Op-eds

March 6, 2026 | Ahmad Sharawi, David Daoud

Why Hezbollah Joined the Iran War

The Lebanese terrorist group’s seemingly self-defeating move underscores its absolute loyalty to the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Op-eds

March 5, 2026 | Behnam Ben Taleblu |

The Four Paths for a Post-Khamenei Iran

The U.S. is hoping for regime change in Iran, but what could happen if the Islamic Republic survives?

Op-eds

March 5, 2026 | Mark Dubowitz |

Hezbollah’s Recklessness May Restore Israel’s ‘Security Zone’

Hezbollah built much of its political legitimacy on the claim that it forced Israel to withdraw from its “security zone” in southern Lebanon in 2000. The group’s decision to now join Iran’s war...

Policy Briefs

March 5, 2026 | Aaron Goren |

Israel Did Not Drag the US Into War

“If anything, I might have forced Israel’s hand,” President Donald Trump exclaimed to a journalist on March 3. He was answering a question posed by ABC News Senior Political Correspondent...

Op-eds

March 5, 2026 | David Daoud |

Hezbollah leader vows to fight until the end in renewed war with Israel

On March 2 at approximately 1:30 am, Hezbollah attacked Israel with several rockets and drones for the first time since the November 27, 2024, ceasefire went into effect. The group officially claimed the...

Op-eds

March 5, 2026 | Bridget Toomey |

Iranian-backed militias continue attacks on US forces in Iraq

As America and Israel continued striking Iran, the Islamic Republic’s partners in Iraq claimed additional attacks against the “US presence” in the region on March 4 and 5, particularly...

Op-eds

March 4, 2026 | Sinan Ciddi, William Doran

Will NATO’s Downing of an Iranian Ballistic Missile Over Turkey Shift Ankara’s Stance?

NATO forces intercepted an Iranian ballistic missile inside Turkish airspace on March 4 —the first instance of NATO territory receiving incoming fire from the Islamic Republic since conflict began on...

Policy Briefs

March 4, 2026 | Bridget Toomey |

Iran’s regional partners spark protests across the Middle East and South Asia

The Islamic Republic of Iran’s proxy groups and sympathetic Shiite communities have arranged demonstrations across the Middle East following the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei...

Op-eds

March 4, 2026 | Edmund Fitton-Brown, Ahmad Sharawi

Oman’s Flipflopping on Iran Will Leave It Isolated in the Gulf

Even being targeted by Iranian drone strikes is not enough to stop Oman from hedgingand even trying to accommodate Tehran. While other Gulf states issued severe condemnations of attacks on their...

Policy Briefs

March 4, 2026 | David Daoud, Justin Leopold-Cohen

Washington Must Ensure Beirut Acts on Its Promise To Disarm Hezbollah

Hezbollah, despite its assurances to Lebanese officials, launched a barrage of rockets and drones at Israel on the morning of March 2, making Lebanon an unwilling party to the war with Iran. In response,...

Policy Briefs

March 4, 2026 | Clifford D. May |

A battle to make America great again

Guess who that’s making angry

Op-eds

March 3, 2026 | Aaron Goren, Janatan Sayeh

Israel Strikes Tehran Regime’s Assembly of Experts, Underlining Efforts to Disrupt Succession Process

Israel’s military isn’t making it easy for the Islamic Republic of Iran to choose a new leader. On March 3, the Israeli Air Force reportedly carried out strikes against a building housing the Assembly...

Policy Briefs

March 3, 2026 | Bridget Toomey |

U.S. Must Pressure Baghdad To Rein in Iran-Backed Militias

After largely sitting out the 12-Day War between Israel and Iran in June last year, Tehran’s proxies in Iraq quickly jumped into the fighting after the United States and Israel began operations against...

Policy Briefs

March 3, 2026 | Cameron McMillan, Justin Leopold-Cohen, Bradley Bowman

US and Israel race to defeat Iranian missiles and drones following early campaign successes

The United States and Israel launched an ambitious, large-scale war against the Islamic Republic of Iran on February 28, and US officials have communicated several goals for the campaign. Speaking to reporters...