It is a wartime decision shaped by the security state, and it raises serious questions about constitutional procedure. The priority appears to be speed and control, as the Islamic Republic faces attacks from outside and a leadership vacuum at the top. The Islamic Republic at a fork in the roadThe Islamic Republic now faces two broad directions. What stepping back would mean in practiceIf Mojtaba chooses regime survival over confrontation, the price will be high. Either way, Mojtaba Khamenei begins in the ruins of his father’s world.

Source: International New York Times March 04, 2026 19:45 UTC