World · 20 February 2026
Iran’s leadership vacuum: limited and risky paths after Khamenei
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khamenei.ir via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)
With widespread unrest challenging decades of clerical rule, Iran faces a precarious future if Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is removed. Analysts warn that Tehran’s fractured opposition lacks a unified figure or cohesive plan to take over, raising fears of chaos or a failed state. Exiled figures like Reza Pahlavi and domestic activists have clashing visions, and hardline factions could fill any power gap. International intervention options also risk deep instability.
Reported by The Wall Street Journal · How we write briefs