Arab diplomat: Khamenei’s death would be massive blow, but regime prepared for withstanding the scenario

A senior Arab diplomat tells The Times of Israel that while the apparent killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is a massive blow to the Islamic Republic, the regime in Tehran has prepared for how to withstand that scenario.

The New York Times reported earlier this month that Khamenei put in place detailed plans for his succession and emergency chains of command should he, or other top leaders, be killed in potential US or Israeli strikes, elevating longtime loyalist Ali Larijani to manage the crisis.

“Iran knows that the US wants this military campaign to end as quickly as possible and will seek to drag it out,” the senior Arab diplomat says.

“Mere survival, at this point, would be considered a victory” for the regime, the diplomat adds, speaking on condition of anonymity.

Iran’s retaliatory strikes on neighboring Arab states have further damaged its regional standing, but Tehran is hoping they will lead the countries hit to intensify their pressure on Washington to wrap up its military campaign sooner, the diplomat speculates.