As the conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran enters its second week, Iran’s leadership is showing visible signs of internal strain, even as officials continue to publicly reject calls from Washington for an “unconditional surrender” and vow to continue fighting.
The divisions have come into sharper focus after the death of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli strike on February 28, an event that triggered a leadership transition and competing responses within Tehran’s political and security establishment.
