The son of Iran’s slain leader has, reportedly, been chosen as the country’s new supreme leader under pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guards. Iran’s 88-member Assembly of Experts conferred remotely last week and chose the new leader. But critics have expressed concern about hereditary rule and clerical credentials; the position of supreme leader is both religious and political. Removing the top figure is unlikely to achieve regime change. The US effected policy change but not regime change in January when Washington abducted Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, whose replacement, Delcy Rodríguez, has been receptive to US demands.

Source: The Irish Times March 09, 2026 15:01 UTC