AFTER the martyrdom of Grand Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei, what direction is the war taking? Today, tomorrow and the day after — indeed for many days to come — this question will continue to stir upheaval and people will feel helpless in answering it, even the warring parties themselves.

As far as Iran is concerned, it is the affected party. The general opinion had been that after three decades of sanctions and the oppressive tactics of world powers, it had been reduced to a half-dead state. Then, in the very first blow, by martyring the Supreme Leader, it was dealt what appeared to be an irreparable loss. In the first wave of aggression, not only was Ayatollah Khamenei martyred, but the first and second tiers of political and military leadership were also wiped out.

One may disagree with political leaders and state authorities, but once they are cut down in such a manner, it is not easy for any state to stand upright. Iran has done so. This is an achievement, yet calling it merely an achievement does not do justice to it — it is a great achievement. Besides Iran, if any country has endured such a tragedy, it was its neighboring state, known to the world as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. This........

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