Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a man whose life has been defined by the harshness of his rhetoric against the West (specifically, the US and Israel) and his ruthless rule, has died a martyr’s death under the rubble of his compound in Pasteur, Tehran. 

It was always going to end this way. Khamenei came to prominence as a revolutionary first and then second as a wartime leader when he assumed the role of President of Iran during the Iran-Iraq war.

What is needed is a clear plan that can unite Iranians behind a shared, inclusive vision of their country

What is needed is a clear plan that can unite Iranians behind a shared, inclusive vision of their country

The Islamic Republic is facing its most serious crisis since January, when it set about killing its way out of nationwide protests. In the absence of a Supreme Leader, it has turned to a committee-style temporary leadership whilst its organs of state chose a new ruler. It is thought that the new leader could be former reformist President Hassan Rouhani or Hassan Khomeini, grandson of Ruhollah Khomeini, the Islamic Republic’s first Supreme Leader. The streets of Iran are simultaneously jubilant, fearful and vengeful. The Islamic Republic is certainly weak and definitely unpopular,but how close to the toppling point it really is we will only find out in the coming days.

President Donald Trump’s diplomatic style with Iran has been nothing if not confusing. Having enacted crippling sanctions on Islamic Republic and killed Qassem Soleimani in his first term, his second administration began with a meeting between Elon Musk........

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