After Khamenei: the security state he built, and the son who inherits it
July 10, 2026
While Ruhollah Khomeini built the revolution, his successor Ali Khamenei built a state designed to survive him. With his son and heir Mojtaba absent from the funeral, what next for the regime?
Tehran has emerged from the US-Iran war more willing to take risks, less constrained by fears of escalation, and more convinced military pressure can yield results
Test of wills: Iran’s ability to outlast the US blockade
April 30, 2026
The standoff in the Hormuz is not simply a question of whether Tehran can survive economic pressure, but whether Washington can sustain the pressure at an acceptable cost.
Iran entered this war after years of sustained economic pressure. Sanctions, isolation, and structural weaknesses have already produced a fragile economy marked by inflation, currency instability, and constrained growth.
Washington weighs the desire to avoid a protracted war with offsetting the appearance of defeat, as Tehran debates whether to consolidate gains before conditions shift or press perceived advantages
