US officials sceptical of Iran regime change after Khamenei killing, sources say
US President Donald Trump has called for Iranians to ‘take back’ their country
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Iranians react to Supreme leader Khamenei’s death
Following the killing of Iran’s Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Saturday, many senior US officials remain sceptical that the US and Israeli military operation against the Islamic Republic would lead to a regime change in the near term.
Before and after the start of the attack, US officials, including US President Donald Trump, had suggested that toppling the nation’s repressive governing system was one of several US goals, in addition to crippling Iran’s ballistic missile and nuclear programmes.
“I call upon all Iranian patriots who yearn for freedom to seize this moment ... and take back your country,” Trump said on Sunday in a video posted on Truth Social.
But three US officials familiar with US intelligence said there is serious scepticism that Iran’s battered opposition can topple the theocratic, authoritarian governing system that has been in place since 1979.
No officials consulted by Reuters completely ruled out the possibility of the fall of Iran’s government, which currently is buffeted by key personnel losses from ongoing US and Israeli air strikes and is deeply unpopular following a January round of extraordinarily violent repression.
But it is far from likely or even probable in the near term, they said.