Will the Balance of Power in West Asia Change?
The balance of power in West Asia is likely to change after the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In this changing scenario, Israel’s emergence as a regional power appears almost certain. At the same time, which country will fill the space opposing Israel will play a crucial role in determining the region’s future balance. ... On 28 February, the United States and Israel began air strikes on Iran, once again igniting conflict in West Asia. Iran announced that its Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in the Israeli attacks, sending shockwaves across West Asia and the world. Along with Khamenei, several senior officials of Iran’s security establishment were also killed in the strikes. The consequences of this attack are unlikely to remain limited to the death of Iran’s supreme leader. Khamenei had been the country’s supreme leader for nearly 37 years and held a firm grip over Iran’s political system. Under his leadership, Iran had built a wide sphe...