US-Israel Strikes Raise Iran Regime Change Question

The United States and Israel have launched coordinated strikes against Iran, targeting key political and military leadership. Among the reported targets were Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian. The operation has sharply escalated tensions in West Asia and triggered retaliation from Tehran, raising questions over whether regime change is the ultimate objective.

Operation Lion’s Roar and Epic Fury

Israel termed its campaign “Operation Lion’s Roar”, while Washington called its involvement “Operation Epic Fury”. Strikes reportedly hit areas around the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei as well as military facilities in Kermanshah, Qum, Isfahan, Tabriz, Karaj and the naval base at Kenarak.

Iranian media reported explosions across multiple cities. While the whereabouts of Khamenei remain unclear, sources indicated that he had been moved to a secure location. Several senior commanders of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards were reportedly killed. In response, Iran launched missile barrages targeting Israel and US installations in the region.

Trump and Netanyahu Signal Political Goals

US President Donald Trump defended the operation as necessary to eliminate imminent threats and prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. He accused Tehran of decades of hostility, support for militant groups and backing attacks against American and Israeli interests.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed similar sentiments, stating that joint action would create conditions for the Iranian people to “take their destiny into their own hands”. Both leaders publicly urged Iranians to challenge their leadership, signalling that the objective may extend beyond military deterrence.

Why Khamenei Is Central

In power since 1989, Khamenei has shaped Iran’s strategic doctrine. He has overseen the expansion of uranium enrichment, defended Iran’s missile programme and maintained a confrontational stance towards Washington and Tel Aviv. His rhetoric frequently frames Israel as illegitimate and positions the United States as a hostile power.

For US and Israeli policymakers, removing Khamenei could disrupt the ideological and institutional backbone of the Islamic Republic. However, Iran’s political system is deeply entrenched, with clerical, military and security institutions intertwined.

Important Facts for Exams

• Iran’s Supreme Leader holds ultimate authority over military, judiciary and state broadcasting.
• The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) operates parallel to Iran’s regular armed forces.
• Iran’s nuclear programme centres on uranium enrichment, monitored by the IAEA.
• West Asia hosts several key US military bases, including in Bahrain and Qatar.

Risks and Regional Fallout

Analysts warn that regime change efforts could destabilise the Gulf region and disrupt energy markets. There is no certainty that leadership collapse would produce a democratic transition; instead, it could trigger internal conflict or power struggles within security institutions.

For Washington and Tel Aviv, the strategy represents a high-stakes gamble. Whether the strikes remain limited to military objectives or evolve into a broader political confrontation will shape the region’s trajectory in the coming weeks.