Mon Jun 23 03:10:00 UTC 2025: **U.S. Strikes Iran, Prompting Internal Power Struggle**
**Tehran, Iran** – A U.S. bombing of Iran on Saturday has thrown the country into turmoil, igniting a debate within the Iranian regime over the future of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s rule, according to sources inside Iran.
The strikes, which the U.S. claims have “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program, have emboldened a faction of Iranian insiders, including businessmen, political and military figures, and relatives of high-ranking clerics, who were already discussing plans to sideline the 86-year-old Supreme Leader, according to sources familiar with the discussions. Their plan involves establishing a leadership committee to negotiate a deal with the United States and halt ongoing attacks.
“I think the chances of us succeeding to somehow sideline Khamenei have now increased,” one person involved in the conversations told me.
While some within the regime advocate for a diplomatic resolution with the U.S., even if it means removing Khamenei from power, others are pushing for a military response. Mostafa Najafi, a Tehran-based expert close to the Iranian security establishment, warned that Iran would retaliate, potentially expanding the conflict. He had previously claimed Iran was prepared for a prolonged war with the U.S. and Israel.
Experts suggest Iran’s options are limited. Hezbollah is reluctant to join the fight, and pro-Tehran militias in Iraq are unlikely to risk dragging their country into another conflict. Some Iranian officials are reportedly considering withdrawing from the Non-Proliferation Treaty and pursuing nuclear weapons.
Mojtaba Dehghani, a Europe-based expert with intimate knowledge of Iran’s leadership, speculated that any symbolic retaliation against U.S. bases in Iraq could escalate the war and ultimately lead to Khamenei’s downfall.
The situation remains fluid and unpredictable, with the future of Iran and its leadership hanging in the balance.
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