Iran-US War: As Khamenei’s Killing Shakes Up The Mideast Conflict, What’s Missing for Actual Change?
- Uri Pilichowski
- 3 days ago
- 3 min read
Iranians experienced a mix of shock, grief, and joy after the death of their country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The attacks unleashed on February 28 killed Khamenei and top military leaders, and prompted Iranian authorities to retaliate with strikes on Israel and across the Gulf.
At the first reports of Khamenei’s death, many Iranians erupted into cheers from apartment buildings in the capital, Tehran, while others blared car horns and blasted music in the streets.
Other Iranians reacted differently. Within hours of the announcement of the Ayatollah’s death, Iranian mourners dressed in black took to the streets in Tehran’s central Enghelab Square. Some were angry while others wept. The grieving crowds chanted “Death to America” and “Death to Israel” and demanded revenge as they carried portraits of their dead leader, religious banners, and the Iranian flag.
Is the Ayatollah’s death a reason to celebrate?
The death of the Islamic Republic leader marks a major achievement for US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who both called for regime change and urged Iranians to rise against the clerical government in the wake of the strikes.
Trump in his Truth Social post confirmed the death, concurring with the Israeli assessment and declared "Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead," adding that the death served as "justice for the people of Iran" as well as "all Great Americans, and those people from many countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS."
The reported killing of Iran's most senior leader now leaves a critical gap in leadership in Iran, which Trump says provides an opportunity for Iranians to rise and overthrow their government. The CIA has assessed that Khamenei will most likely be replaced by hardline figures from Iran's Revolutionary Guards, officials told Reuters.
Ayatollah’s death is also a cause for concern
The assassination may provoke fierce retaliation from Iran, including missile strikes on US bases and allies, leading to a wider war involving regional powers. It could deepen sectarian divides, embolden hardliners in Iran to consolidate power, and cause humanitarian crises like refugee flows or economic disruptions from oil supply interruptions. Global reactions underscore fears of prolonged instability.
Russian President Vladimir Putin described Khamenei’s killing as a “cynical murder” that violated “all standards of human morality and international law.” Putin added that in Russia, Khamenei will be “remembered as an outstanding statesman who made a huge personal contribution to the development of friendly Russian-Iranian relations and brought them to the level of a comprehensive strategic partnership.”
China also condemned the killing of Khamenei. Beijing said it “strongly condemns” the killing. It described the strike as “a serious violation of Iran’s sovereignty and security, a trampling on the aims and principles of the UN Charter and the basic norms of international relations”. “China firmly opposes and strongly condemns this,” the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said while calling for the “immediate halting of military operations.”
What’s missing for Iranians to see actual change?
Khamenei's removal alone isn't regime change. Iran's system is resilient, with the IRGC potentially filling the power vacuum via hardline successors. True transformation in Iran will require internal uprisings, dismantling theocratic structures, international pressure for fair elections, and support for secular opposition. Without these, a new leader could perpetuate repression and anti-Western policies.
Khamenei reportedly selected three candidates who could take his place during last June’s 12-day war. Their names have not been made public. The uncertainty about succession could create an opportunity for the regime’s opponents. In video comments announcing the U.S. strikes in Iran, President Trump urged Iranian citizens to seize the moment to topple the regime.
Wrap up
The assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has sent shockwaves through the Middle East, evoking mixed reactions in Iran, from celebratory cheers in Tehran streets to mourning crowds chanting "Death to America" and "Death to Israel."
While some view it as a victory for regime change advocates like Trump and Netanyahu, potentially weakening Iran's proxies and nuclear ambitions, others fear escalation, wider war, retaliation against US bases and allies, and deepened instability. Khamenei's killing is a catalyst, but lasting peace demands diplomatic efforts beyond military action.
Uri Pilichowski is an author, speaker, and senior educator at institutions around the world.