It is far from clear that Mokhbar, as close as he is to Khamenei, will have Raisi's standing, which could leave the question of Khamenei's successor as much more widely open than before.
This does “nothing” for regime change, said Dr. Meir Javedanfar, an Iranian lecturer at Reichman University, as he explained that the impact would largely be domestic.
Before April 13, observers knew that the Islamic Republic promoted low-grade terrorism in wild and unpredictable ways, but they also knew Tehran avoided large-scale conflicts – carefully.
"We have no decision to build a nuclear bomb, but should Iran's existence be threatened, there will be no choice but to change our military doctrine," Kharrazi said.
Readers of The Jerusalem Post have their say.
Mahmoud Mehrabi is the latest in a series of activists arrested in connection with the 2022 protests who have been sentenced to death.
Under Khamenei, Iran has experienced an alarming intensification of state control and a severe curtailment of personal freedom, unmatched in its modern history.
Tehran openly targeted Israel for the first time on April 13 with more than 300 missiles and drones in what it said was retaliation for Israel's suspected deadly bombing of its embassy compound.
The IDF was looking for a way to respond to the attack without being dragged into a direct and ongoing confrontation.
Iran considers revising nuclear strategy amid Israeli threats. Talks to revive 2015 nuclear pact stalled; UN watchdog raised concerns over Iran's uranium enrichment.
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