It looks like we will have some entries here criticizing the Supreme Leader.  First, his hiding in a bunker without communication hamstrung his administration and its response to the war and to possible diplomatic communications, including through Pres. Erdogan’s office in Turkey.  He was incommunicado for many hours, perhaps a day?  See “Scoop: Trump’s backchannel to Iran failed after supreme leader went dark,” Axios, 6-21-25.

“Sheltering in a Bunker, Iran’s Supreme Leader Names Potential Successors,” NYT, 6-21-25.  As already outlined in this blog on June 13, Art. 111 of the Iranian Constitution spells out that the president, the chief justice, and a member of the Guardian Council take the place of the Ayatollah immediately after death, until the formal selection of a new leader by the Assembly of Experts.  But the NYT and the expert they interview do not point this out, or the unconstitutional action by the Supreme Leader.  Instead, the NYT reports Ayatollah Khamenei has “named three senior clerics as candidates to succeed him should he be killed.”  The person would be chosen by the Assembly “from the three names he has provided.”  Not only is this not in the constitution, it  creates a situation of “rules from the dead” and prevents the Assembly from having a clean slate to consider.  Maybe we should ask the Ayatollah who is on the list….  It does not matter that Khamenei is the Vali Faqih, the senior guardian of Shia.  Nowhere does he have power to rule after death, or to select the names.  The first Ayatollah did not do this.  Interestingly, the NYT says “Ayatollah Khamenei’s son Mojtaba, also a cleric and close to the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps, who was rumored to be a front-runner, is not among the candidates, the officials said.”  I believe the Ayatollah is trying to protect his family.  BTW, the Times does report that non-judicial executions begin tomorrow in Iran for anyone suspected of working with the enemy.

The newest Hezbollah chief refused to obey the Supreme Leader.  “Israeli security sources to i24NEWS: Hezbollah chief rebuffed Khamenei’s demand to join war,” i24, 6-21-25.  He didn’t want to die.  And he wanted Hezbollah to fight another day.

“British man arrested in Cyprus suspected of spying and terror offences,” BBC, 6-21-25.

Here it is, the last and most important news of the day.  “U.S. launches major strike on Iranian nuclear sites, Trump declares ‘complete success’,” i24, 6-21-25.  “U.S. President Donald Trump announced Saturday evening that the United States had carried out a large-scale military strike on three Iranian nuclear facilities, declaring the operation “a complete success.”  The targets included the Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan sites—critical elements of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.  Fordow Facility: Considered the highest-priority target, it was reportedly hit with six 15-ton bunker-buster bombs dropped by B-2 stealth bombers.  Natanz and Isfahan Sites: Each was struck by multiple Tomahawk missiles launched from U.S. Navy submarines.  “All aircraft are now out of Iranian airspace,” Trump confirmed during a press statement. “A full payload of bombs was dropped on Fordow. We have completed a highly successful attack on all three nuclear sites.”  …  Israeli sources told i24NEWS that the U.S. and Israel had coordinated a public show of disagreement in recent days to mislead Tehran and maintain the element of surprise.  …  Iranian authorities acknowledged the strikes. A spokesperson for the Qom Crisis Management Center told state media that “part of the Fordow nuclear site area was attacked by enemy air forces.” The deputy governor of Isfahan also confirmed “intrusions near nuclear facilities,” without elaborating on the extent of the damage.  … Sources cited by CNN say the administration views the strike as a strategic move to revive diplomatic efforts and is not currently planning additional military action. … The strike represents a major escalation in efforts to counter Iran’s nuclear ambitions and sends a clear message about the willingness of the U.S. and its allies to act militarily if diplomacy fails.”

I believe this is the first communication from Iran after the U.S. bombings.  A tacit acknowledgment of the events.  “Iran says strikes did not cause nuclear contamination,” Politico, 6-21-25.  But it will be veryyyyy interesting to see what the Supreme Leader says in the video his office will release.

“Israel says it killed Iran’s military coordinator with Hamas,” BBC, 6-21-25.  “Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi … told European envoys in Geneva on Friday that Iran would not resume talks over its nuclear programme until Israel’s strikes stopped.”  Uh oh, don’t tell Pres. Trump.  Well, I’m posting this story more than 24 hours after it happened, because I can’t post until something shows up in open sources so we know about it.  But this news, of the FM (speaking for the Leader) refusing talks during the maximum two week window was probably one of the keys to the U.S. knowing that Iran would not negotiate.  And the President heard this on Friday.

“Targeting of Quds Force shows growing breach in Iranian intelligence security,” BBC, 6-21-25.

“You Fund Terror, Then Ask for Sympathy?”, Statement by Israel Ambassador Danny Danon,” UNSC, You Tube, 6-21-25, 14.23 min.  “At the UN Security Council, Israeli Ambassador Danny Danon unleashed a devastating response to Iran’s hypocrisy and the world’s indifference. Speaking just days after Iran launched ballistic missiles at Soroka Hospital in Israel, Danon laid out the facts: Iran is actively targeting civilians, building nuclear weapons, and exporting terror across five continents.”