Death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Leaves Iran Without Authoritative Leadership

About this episode

In a wide-ranging geopolitical analysis, host Mario and senior analyst Aaron David Miller assess the current state of US-Iran relations following what appears to be a pause in direct military conflict. The episode opens with the stark reality that Iran has effectively gained control over the Strait of Hormuz, reducing ship traffic to roughly one-third of pre-war levels, while over 9 million Iranians demonstrate in the streets chanting anti-American slogans even as negotiations proceed. Bloomberg reports that some European countries have already accepted that Iran will charge fees for passage through the strait, while Oman has formally proposed a fee structure that would include both Oman and Iran collecting tolls. The US is attempting to prevent this outcome by offering sanctions relief and other incentives. Miller outlines three possible pathways forward: a return to full-scale military operations after midterm elections, a comprehensive nuclear deal involving significant constraints on Iran's enrichment program in exchange for economic relief, or most likely, a return to a gray zone of no war and no peace with continued tensions. A critical development discussed is the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, which has left Iran without an authoritative figure capable of balancing the country's fractious politics for the first time since the revolution. His son Mojtaba lacks the credentials to immediately fill this role, and the New York Times reports splits among Iranian conservatives between those favoring negotiations and hardliners seeking revenge. Miller argues the war was a mistake that couldn't achieve regime change and has instead encumbered the global economy. The episode concludes with discussion of Netanyahu's upcoming meeting with Trump and whether the Israeli prime minister still maintains influence over US policy despite Trump's reported anger over the war's outcome.