U.S. intelligence agencies have reportedly concluded that removing Iran’s current ruling system would be extremely difficult, even as U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly declared his intention to completely reshape Iran’s leadership structure.
According to a report by The Washington Post, a classified assessment prepared by the National Intelligence Council indicates that even a large-scale military campaign would not easily overthrow the government in Iran. The report, completed about a week before the start of U.S. and Israeli military operations, suggests that Iran’s political system has built-in mechanisms to maintain continuity even in the event that top leaders are killed.
U.S. intelligence officials believe that Iran’s governing structure is designed to survive leadership losses. The country has already established strong succession protocols and institutional safeguards that would allow the system to continue functioning despite targeted strikes against its leadership.
The intelligence assessment also highlights the weakness and fragmentation of Iran’s internal opposition groups. According to analysts, these groups remain divided and lack the organizational strength required to mobilize a large-scale uprising or seize power in the near future. This significantly reduces the likelihood of a domestic political collapse triggered by external military pressure.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has suggested that he should have influence over the selection of Iran’s next supreme leadership. Referring to past international interventions in leadership disputes, Trump stated that he wants to see a leader in Iran who would change the country’s current policies and promote peace and stability.
Trump has also indicated that the possible succession of Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, would not be acceptable to him. He emphasized that Iran needs a leadership change that would fundamentally alter its strategic direction. Otherwise, he warned, the United States could face another conflict with Iran within the next five years.
However, Trump’s remarks were firmly rejected by Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf. In a message posted on social media, Ghalibaf stated that Iran’s future will be determined solely by the Iranian people and that no external power has the right to interfere in the country’s internal political decisions.
International analysts say the geopolitical complexity of the Middle East, combined with Iran’s resilient political structure and strong security institutions, makes the sudden collapse of the Iranian regime highly unlikely.
Source: NDTV
