Iran continues to be a revolutionary state, not a normal country.  Even the supposed alive ayatollah (no April Fools joke) says so.  “Letter attributed to Khamenei posted on Telegram pledges support for Hezbollah,” Iran International, 4-1-26.  “A letter attributed to Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was posted on his Telegram channel, pledging continued support for Hezbollah and its leadership. The letter, dated two days ago, praised “resistance and steadfastness” against the United States and Israel and said Iran’s policy “is based on continuing support for the resistance.” It also expressed confidence in Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem, saying he could “defeat the plans of the Zionist enemy” and restore “peace and pride” to Lebanon.”

“The Third Islamic Republic:  A War’s Unintended Consequences—for Iran, the Middle East, and the Global Order,” Foreign Affairs, 4-1-26.  Suzanne Maloney is an experienced hand in two administrations and good thinker.  Her proposal that the current fighting will result in a Third Islamic Republic, though, I will disagree with.  Here’s why.  Yes, the IRGC is asserting itself at the expense of the religious class and the bureaucracy.  But that was happening anyway.  The real reason is that she aligns the three republics with the three ayatollahs—and we have no proof yet that there is a third ayatollah.  In fact, the media of the world, and the countries of the world, should really demand that they won’t deal with Iran unless they know who they are dealing with.