If Khamenei falls, who takes Iran? Strikes will expose power vacuum — and the IRGC’s grip
As U.S. and Israeli forces strike deep inside Iran — reportedly targeting senior regime officials including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian — the question of who would lead Iran if the Islamic Republic collapses is no longer theoretical. Iran has retaliated with missile barrages against U.S. positions across the Middle East, and while Iranian state media says top leaders remain alive and have been moved to secure locations, the direct targeting of political and military leadership marks a dramatic escalation. Yet despite the intensity of the moment, regional analysts say there is no obvious successor poised to take control of the country. Experts consistently point to one determining factor: whether Iran’s coercive institutions — particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) — fracture or consolidate. If the IRGC remains cohesive, the most likely outcome is not democratic transition but a harder, more openly security-dominated system. A clerical reshuffle or military-led consolidation could preserve much of the existing power structure even if key figures are removed. If, however, segments of the IRGC or regular armed forces defect or splinter under pressure from war and internal unrest, a political opening could emerge. At this stage, there is no confirmed evidence of widespread security defections. TRUMP TELLS IRANIANS THE ‘HOUR OF YOUR FREEDOM IS AT HAND’ AS US-ISRAEL LAUNCH STRIKES AGAINST IRAN One of the most prominent opposition figures abroad is Reza Pahlavi, son of Iran’s last shah. He has lived outside Iran since the 1979 revolution and has spent decades advocating for a secular, democratic system. In a recent statement, Pahlavi called the U.S. strikes a “humanitarian intervention” and urged Iran’s military and security forces to abandon the clerical regime. He declared that the Islamic Republic is “collapsing” and called on Iranians to prepare to return to the streets at the appropriate time. But while Pahlavi has name recognition and support among parts of the diaspora, his actual base of support inside Iran is difficult to measure. He has not lived in the country for more than four decades, and many Iranians remain divided over the legacy of the monarchy. Analysts note that symbolic visibility — including chants heard during past protests — does not necessarily translate into the organizational infrastructure needed to govern a country of nearly 90 million people. Maryam Rajavi, leader of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI), has taken a different approach. Her organization announced a provisional government framework aimed at transferring sovereignty to the Iranian people and establishing a democratic republic based on her longstanding ten-point plan. In a subsequent message, Rajavi called on “patriotic personnel in the armed forces” to stand with the Iranian people and urged regime forces to “lay down their arms and surrender.” She also rejected both clerical rule and what she described as “monarchical fascism,” an apparent reference to restorationist movements linked to the former royal family. The plan calls for dissolving the IRGC and other security institutions, separating religion from the state, abolishing the death penalty, guaranteeing gender equality and holding elections for a constituent assembly. The NCRI presents itself as a ready governing alternative. TRUMP ADMIN RAMPS UP ‘MAXIMUM PRESSURE’ IRAN SANCTIONS AHEAD OF NEW ROUND OF NUCLEAR TALKS But the group — closely associated with the Mujahedin-e Khalq (MEK) — remains deeply controversial. Its history of armed struggle and years spent in exile have led many analysts to question the depth of its support inside Iran, particularly among younger generations. While some Western political figures have expressed backing over the years, domestic legitimacy remains uncertain. Despite bold statements from opposition figures, experts caution that Iran’s future leadership is more likely to be shaped inside military barracks and security compounds than in exile press conferences. Four decades of repression have hollowed out internal political alternatives. No widely recognized civilian leader inside Iran has emerged with cross-factional legitimacy. If the regime’s leadership were to fall quickly, the immediate struggle would likely be among security elites — not between rival exile figures. For now, analysts say, Iran has competing visions but no consensus successor. Whether the country transitions toward a new political system, hardens into military rule or experiences prolonged instability will depend less on declarations abroad and more on whether the regime’s core power structures fracture from within.
Ghaziabad Horror: Ex-Muslim YouTuber Saleem Wastik stabbed inside home office, investigation underway
YouTuber Saleem Wastik is in critical condition after being stabbed multiple times at his Ghaziabad home. Two unidentified attackers fled the scene. An FIR has been registered, and police are examining CCTV footage while investigating the motive behind the assault.
Odisha Horror: 23-year-old woman raped by boyfriend, stranger on same day, dies after being thrown from 4-storey building
Odisha woman raped twice, pushed to death from 4-storey building in Jagatsinghpur. Two men arrested for kidnapping, rape and murder.
Delhi SHOCKER: 17-year-old boy’s burnt body found near Majlis Park metro station, two arrested
In a horrific incident from Delhi, burnt body of a 17-year-old boy was found in the bushes near Majlis Park Metro Station in North West Delhi on February 11, who was a victim of a revenge killing related to another murder case from August 2025.
Redrawn to favor GOP, Texas’ 35th Congressional District attracts competitive primaries in both parties
President Donald Trump recently endorsed Air Force veteran Carlos De La Cruz for the seat Texas Republicans drew at his request. Democrats also see a chance to win in November.
Fetterman praises Operation Epic Fury: Trump is ‘willing to do what’s right’
As one of Israel’s staunchest defenders from the left, Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., full-throatedly endorsed President Donald Trump’s attacks on Iran as lawmakers on both sides of the aisle reacted Saturday morning. “President Trump has been willing to do what’s right and necessary to produce real peace in the region,” Fetterman wrote on X. “God bless the United States, our great military, and Israel.” Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., one of Congress’ biggest backers of bold military action, is hailing President Donald Trump as a “man of peace,” and “evil’s worst nightmare.” “As I watch and monitor this historic operation, I’m in awe of President Trump’s determination to be a man of peace but at the end of the day, evil’s worst nightmare,” Graham wrote Saturday morning on X in a string of posts. “Well done, Mr. President.” FETTERMAN BREAKS WITH DEMOCRATS TO BACK TRUMP TAKING MILITARY ACTION IN IRAN IF NECESSARY Trump’s U.S. military armada in the Middle East, working in concert with Israel, is targeting military targets and ballistic missile sites that pose an “imminent threat,” a U.S. official told Fox News Chief National Security Correspondent Jennifer Griffin. The U.S. military is not targeting Iran’s leadership, but Israel is, the official added. Strikes hit the compound home of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, 86, in downtown Tehran on Saturday morning. And Trump issued a video statement on social media, urging Iranian people to get out of the way for now, but “when we are finished, take over your government; It will be yours to take.” “God bless @POTUS for planning and now executing Operation Epic Fury, making America more safe and eventually more prosperous,” Graham added. “I seek God’s protection for all under President Trump’s command, as well as our allies in Israel. LINDSEY GRAHAM CALLS FOR US TO USE ‘ANY MEANS NECESSARY’ TO STOP THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE KILLING OF IRANIANS “My mind is racing with the thought that the murderous ayatollah’s regime in Iran will soon be no more. While reports of explosions happened hours earlier, Graham posted his first support for the actions after 3 a.m. ET, calling the “operation is necessary and long justified.” “The biggest change in the Middle East in a thousand years is upon us,” Graham added in his second post on X. “The likelihood of normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel getting back on track is exceedingly high – a subject I brought up last week to the key players in the region who concurred if the ayatollah goes down, historic peace advances.” As the attacks were under way and battle damage assessments were yet to come, Graham delivered his prayers to the troops undertaking the operation. “As to the men and women participating in this operation for our country and Israel, may God bless you and keep you safe,” he wrote. “If you are injured or fall, I believe with all my heart that your sacrifice makes your country and the world a better and safer place. This moment is why you chose to serve. “This operation has been well-planned. It will be violent, extensive and I believe, at the end of the day, successful. Again the demise of the ayatollah’s regime with American blood on its hands is necessary and more than justified.” MORNING GLORY: WHAT WILL PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP DECIDE TO DO WITH IRAN? And, one of Trump’s long-time Republican critics, Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., also posted on X, noting Trump has not sought congressional approval – although there was a briefing held with the Gang of Eight earlier this week. “Acts of war unauthorized by Congress,” Massie wrote on X. Senate Armed Forces Committee Chair Roger Wicker, R-Miss., praised the “decisive action” against “the world’s leading proliferator of terrorism.” “This is a pivotal and necessary operation to protect Americans and American interests,” Wicker wrote in a statement. “The president has stated the operation’s goals clearly: thwart permanently the ayatollahs’ desire to create a nuclear weapon, degrade their ballistic missile force and their production capacity, and destroy their naval and terrorism capabilities. “These are the hardest decisions that face any American commander-in-chief, and I appreciate that President Trump and his team conducted a comprehensive strategy using all tools of national power and a well-orchestrated military planning process.” The time to strike was now, according to Wicker. “The Iranian regime has never been weaker,” he added. “Without the use of military force against them, Iran’s ayatollahs would simply continue to grow their ability to threaten Americans and our interests, working in concert with the Chinese Communist Party, the Russian dictator Putin, North Korea, and other terrorist allies. “The ayatollahs have mortgaged the economic future of ordinary Iranians to engage in their obsessive and apocalyptic vision. Most importantly, I commend the brave men and women of our armed forces, who continue to demonstrate a level of operational proficiency unrivaled the world over. That fact will be evident in the coming days. Thanks to them, Americans are safer – not just today, but for generations to come.”
Trump tells Iranians the ‘hour of your freedom is at hand’ as US-Israel launch strikes against Iran
President Donald Trump encouraged the Iranian people to take over their government once the United States and Israel finished “major combat operations” in Iran, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran. The U.S. and Israel launched the joint attack just after 9 a.m. local time in what the Pentagon has dubbed “Operation Epic Fury.” In video remarks posted to Truth Social, Trump addressed the Iranian people directly and told them to “seize control of [their] destiny.” “The hour of your freedom is at hand. Stay sheltered. Don’t leave your home. It’s very dangerous outside. Bombs will be dropping everywhere. When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take,” Trump said. “This will be, probably, your only chance for generations. For many years, you have asked for America’s help, but you never got it. No President was willing to do what I am willing to do tonight. Now you have a President who is giving you what you want.” LEAVITT SAYS TRUMP CHOOSES DIPLOMACY FIRST FOR IRAN, BUT REMAINS ‘WILLING TO USE’ LETHAL FORCE IF NECESSARY “America is backing you with overwhelming strength and devastating force,” Trump directed at Iranians. “Now is the time to seize control of your destiny and to unleash the prosperous and glorious future that is close within your reach. This is the moment for action. Do not let it pass.” While Trump focused some of his message on empowering the people of Iran, he stated that the intent of the operation is to “defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” which he described as “vicious” and “very hard, terrible people.” Trump also said that while there may be American casualties as a result, the mission is “noble” as it is aimed at stopping a “wicked, radical dictatorship” from threatening American national security interests and destabilizing the Middle East. “I do not make this statement lightly; the Iranian regime seeks to kill,” he said. “The lives of courageous American heroes may be lost and we may have casualties, that often happens in war. But we’re doing this not for now. We’re doing it for the future, and it is a noble mission.” TRUMP ADMIN RAMPS UP ‘MAXIMUM PRESSURE’ IRAN SANCTIONS AHEAD OF NEW ROUND OF NUCLEAR TALKS Trump noted repeated failed attempts at negotiating a deal with Iran, accusing Tehran of rebuilding its nuclear program and calling it “the world’s number-one state sponsor of terror.” “It has always been the policy of the United States, in particular my administration, that this terrorist regime can never have a nuclear weapon. I’ll say it again. They can never have a nuclear weapon,” he said. TRUMP SAYS HE IS ‘CONSIDERING’ A LIMITED MILITARY STRIKE TO PRESSURE IRAN INTO NUCLEAR DEAL The president vowed to destroy Iran’s missile infrastructure and annihilate its navy. “It’s a very simple message. They will never have a nuclear weapon. This regime will soon learn that no one should challenge the strength and might of the United States Armed Forces,” Trump said. He also called on members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard, Iran’s armed forces and police to lay down their weapons and accept immunity or “face certain death.” The military operation comes hours after Trump told reporters Friday that he was “not happy” with the state of nuclear negotiations. The two countries had been engaged in indirect talks, and Trump gave Iran a deadline of roughly 10 to 15 days on Feb. 19 to reach an agreement. During his State of the Union address, he emphasized that his push for a deal was backed by force. Trump has repeatedly warned of severe consequences for the Iranian regime if negotiations ultimately failed. “It’s been mass terror and we are not going to put up with it any longer,” Trump said.
WATCH: Dem lawmaker makes surprising admission about border as others trash Trump’s SOTU ‘lies’
Democrats in the House and the Senate on Capitol Hill clapped back with criticisms about President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address, calling him out for “lies” and suggesting the president isn’t winning the way Trump says he is. Some Democrats, like Sens. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., argued that Trump’s move to blame former President Joe Biden for the current affordability issues Americans are facing is expired, while Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., said he had to up-and-leave the president’s address because he was talking about making America healthier, describing the claim as a “lie.” Markey wasn’t the only Capitol Hill Democrat to accuse Trump of lying during his State of the Union speech, with Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., and Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., using the same attack line. “I don’t want to respond to all of Dr. Trump’s lies,” Booker said when asked about Trump’s address to the nation. VULNERABLE HOUSE DEM LASHES OUT AT TRUMP’S ‘RACIST’ SOTU CHALLENGE: ‘THAT WAS UNCOMFORTABLE’ But, in the process of discussing Trump’s approach to immigration, Blumenthal did admit “that the border is more secure.” That comment, however, was quickly followed up with a criticism about how Trump is doing just that. “I’ve long favored border security. I’m pleased that the border is more secure,” Blumenthal said when asked about his reaction to parts of Trump’s speech. “Some of the tactics used within the country, I think, are really regrettable and inhumane. And that’s why I think there needs to be reforms that stop the violations of law and constitutional rights.” ICE enforcement appeared to be a sticking point for Omar as well. BACKLASH GROWS AFTER CLINTON-APPOINTED JUDGE FREES MIGRANTS OVER ICE AGENT MASKING “It happens all the time when a president is lying and clearly forgets that his administration killed two of my constituents,” she told Fox News Digital when asked about some of the interruptions that took place during the State of the Union. “It is important for the reminder to be there.” When asked about her stance on defunding ICE, Omar said, she “look[ed] forward” to doing it. “At this moment, actually accountability and for people to go to jail for the killing of Renee Good and Alex Pretti,” Omar responded when asked what it would take for her to fund ICE and end the current partial government shutdown impacting workers.
Peace ‘within reach’ as Iran agrees no nuclear material stockpile: Oman FM
Oman’s Foreign Minister says most recent indirect talks between US, Iran ‘really advanced, substantially’ and diplomacy must be allowed do its work. Listen to this article Listen to this article | 3 mins info Iran agreed during indirect talks with the United States never to stockpile enriched uranium, said Oman’s top diplomat, who described the development as a major breakthrough. Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi also said on Friday that he believed all issues in a deal between Iran and the US could be resolved “amicably and comprehensively” within a few months. Recommended Stories list of 4 itemsend of list “A peace deal is within our reach … if we just allow diplomacy the space it needs to get there,” Al Busaidi said in an interview with CBS News in Washington, DC, after Oman brokered the third round of indirect talks between the US and Iran in Geneva on Thursday. “If the ultimate objective is to ensure forever that Iran cannot have a nuclear bomb, I think we have cracked that problem through these negotiations by agreeing [on] a very important breakthrough that has never been achieved any time before,” Al Busaidi said. “The single most important achievement, I believe, is the agreement that Iran will never ever have nuclear material that will create a bomb,” he said. “Now we are talking about zero stockpiling, and that is very, very important because if you cannot stockpile material that is enriched, then there is no way that you can actually create a bomb,” he added. There would also be “full and comprehensive verification by the IAEA [International Atomic Energy Agency]”, he said, referring to the UN’s nuclear watchdog. Oman’s top diplomat also said Iran would degrade its current stockpiles of nuclear material to “the lowest level possible” so that it is “converted into fuel, and that fuel will be irreversible”. Advertisement “This is something completely new. It really makes the enrichment argument less relevant, because now we are talking about zero stockpiling,” Al Busaidi said. Regarding recent US demands regarding Iran’s missile programme, Al Busaidi said: “I believe Iran is open to discuss everything”. Asked if he thought enough ground was covered in the most recent talks in Geneva to hold off a US attack on Iran, the minister said, “I hope so.” “We have really advanced substantially, and I think, obviously, there remains various details to be ironed out, and this is why we need a little bit more time to really try and accomplish the ultimate goal of having a comprehensive package of the deal,” he said. “But the big picture is that a deal is in our hands,” he added. The foreign minister’s comment followed after he met earlier on Friday with US Vice President JD Vance and as US President Donald Trump continued to sabre-rattle while at the same time declaring he favoured a diplomatic solution with Tehran. Trump said on Friday that he was not happy with the recent talks that concluded in Geneva. “We’re not exactly happy with the way they’re negotiating,” Trump told reporters in Washington, adding that Iran “should make a deal”. “They’d be smart if they made a deal,” he said. Trump later said that he would prefer it if the US did not have to use military force, “but sometimes you have to do it”. The US and Iranian sides are expected to meet again on Monday in Vienna, Austria, for more indirect negotiations. Adblock test (Why?)
Trump administration charges 30 more people for Minnesota church protest
Listen to this article Listen to this article | 5 mins info The administration of United States President Donald Trump has broadened its prosecution of the protesters involved in a church demonstration to 39 people, up from nine. The demonstration was part of a backlash to Trump’s deadly immigration surge in the Midwestern state of Minnesota, but officials have sought to frame the protest as an attack on religious freedom. Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of list Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the expanded indictment on Friday in a message posted to social media. “Today, [the Justice Department] unsealed an indictment charging 30 more people who took part in the attack on Cities Church in Minnesota,” Bondi wrote. “At my direction, federal agents have already arrested 25 of them, with more to come throughout the day.” She added a warning to other protesters who might seek to disrupt a religious service. “YOU CANNOT ATTACK A HOUSE OF WORSHIP,” Bondi said. “If you do so, you cannot hide from us — we will find you, arrest you, and prosecute you. This Department of Justice STANDS for Christians and all Americans of faith.” Appealing to Christian voters Since taking office for a second term, Trump has sought to appeal to Christian conservatives by launching initiatives, for example, to root out anti-Christian bias and prevent alleged acts of Christian persecution, both domestically and in countries like Nigeria. But critics have accused his administration of attempting to stifle opposition through its prosecution of the Minnesota protest attendees. Some of those indicted deny even being a part of the January 18 protest. Defendants like former CNN anchor Don Lemon and reporter Georgia Fort say they attended in their capacity as journalists. Advertisement Both have pleaded not guilty to the charges and have publicly questioned whether their prosecution is an attempt to curtail freedom of the press. The superseding indictment, filed on Thursday, levies two counts against the 39 defendants, accusing them of conspiracy against the right of religious freedom and efforts to injure, intimidate or interfere with the exercise of religious freedom. “While inside the Church, defendants collectively oppressed, threatened and intimidated the Church’s congregants and pastors by physically occupying the main aisle and rows of chairs near the front of the church,” the indictment reads It also describes the protesters as “engaging in menacing and threatening behavior” by “chanting and yelling loudly” and obstructing exits. A magistrate judge on January 22 initially rejected the Justice Department’s attempt to charge nine attendees who were at the protest. But the department sought a grand jury indictment instead, which was filed on January 29 and made public the next day. A reaction to Trump’s immigration surge The protest, dubbed “Operation Pullup”, was conceived as a response to the violent immigration crackdown that had unfolded in Minnesota. Many of the enforcement efforts centred on the metropolitan area that includes the Twin Cities: St Paul and Minneapolis. Trump had repeatedly blamed the area’s large Somali American population for a welfare fraud scandal involving government funds for programmes like Medicaid and school lunches. In December, the Trump administration surged federal immigration agents to the region, nicknaming the effort Operation Metro Surge. At its height, as many as 3,000 agents were in the Minneapolis-St Paul area. But the effort was plagued by reports of excessive violence towards detainees and protesters alike. Videos circulated of officers breaking the car windows of legal observers, pepper-spraying protesters and beating people. Officers also engaged in the practice of entering homes forcibly without a judicial warrant, which advocates described as a violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution. Cases of unlawful arrests were also reported. But a turning point came on January 7, when an agent with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was caught on camera shooting into the vehicle of 37-year-old mother Renee Good. She died, and her killing triggered nationwide protests. Operation Pullup took place at Cities Church in St Paul less than two weeks later. It was intended as a demonstration against the church’s pastor, David Easterwood, who serves as a local official for ICE. Advertisement Several protesters have indicated that they are prepared to fight the government’s charges over the incident, citing their First Amendment rights to free speech. Some also said that they intended to remain vigilant towards government immigration operations, even after Trump administration officials announced Operation Metro Surge was winding down in mid-February. “This is not the time to be Minnesota Nice,” one protester, civil rights lawyer Nekima Levy Armstrong, wrote on social media last week. “It’s time for truth, justice, and freedom to prevail.” Adblock test (Why?)