“Trump Considers Targeted Strike Against Iran, Followed by Larger Attack,” NYT, 2-22-26.

As a sign of how “off the rails” the IRI government has become, the Supreme Leader’s survival and leadership and succession plan doesn’t even mention the Assembly of Experts, the constitutional body responsible for selecting a new leader, nor does the NYT even mention the Assembly.  Amazing developments in a regime slated for falling apart, being surgically altered by the strikes, being overthrown by its own people, all the above.  See “Inside Iran’s Preparation for War and Plans for Survival,” NYT, 2-22-26.  Khamenei has “told everyone in leadership roles to name up to four replacements and has delegated responsibilities to a tight circle of confidants to make decisions in case communications with him are disrupted or he is killed.”  Adviser Larijani is “in Mr. Khamenei’s trusted circle, which includes his top military adviser and former commander in chief of the Guards, Maj. Gen. Yahya Rahim Safavi; Brig. Gen. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a former Guards commander and current speaker of Parliament, … and his chief of staff, the cleric Ali Asghar Hejazi.”  BTW, Larijani is taking the place of Pres. Pezeshkian in essence, see the article for examples.