Iran
The joint military operations led by the United States and Israel of February 28, 2026 resulted in the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and triggered massive reprisals across the Gulf. Ifri analyzes the strategic implications of this shift: while the regime is faltering, lasting change would require ground support and popular mobilization backed by part of the security apparatus. Between military escalation, the threat of blocking the Strait of Hormuz, and international terrorist risk, the Middle East faces unprecedented instability that threatens the balance of the entire Arabian Peninsula and the Near East.
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