Possible Leadership Developments in Iran After Khamenei
February 28, 2026
The U.S. intelligence community believes that if Khamenei is removed, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards could temporarily take over leadership. However, these estimates are not definitive. The U.S. Secretary of State stated that it is unknown who would govern in the event of a regime collapse. Additionally, the U.S. lacks a clear understanding of the Guards' hierarchy since Soleimani's assassination. Recent Israeli strikes targeted high-ranking Iranian officials.