Al Majalla debuted its weekly cover story last week amid the escalating US-Israeli war on Iran. Titled Mojtaba Khamenei: Iran’s third Supreme Leader, our writers take a 360 look at the future of the Islamic Republic following the US assassination of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and the appointment of his son to take his place. Alex Vatanka explains how The US-Iran war could empower the IRGC. In it, he says, “When states are attacked, authority gravitates towards institutions capable of mobilising resources, enforcing discipline, and coordinating a military response.” For his part, Christopher Phillips explains Why regime change in Iran is unlikely. "There are few examples of successful US regime-change operations in history. And without a permanent ground troop presence, these wins can easily be reversed," he says.

On the US front, Ramzy Ezzeldin Ramzy pens a piece titled Mission creep: Trump's goal in Iran remains unclear. “Without a stable objective, military action risks becoming an open-ended process, rather than a strategy with a clear end goal,” he explains. For his part, Brian Katulis explains how a protracted war multiplies risks for Trump. In his piece, he says, “While the US president has said that operations are almost complete, the Pentagon says the fight has just begun. The only thing we know for certain is that US public opinion isn’t behind the war. And Con Coughlin explains how Trump is struggling to put a positive spin on the war. “The Iranians are proving to be remarkably resilient, and knock-on effects from the war are trickling down fast to consumers around the world,” he explains.

On the economic front, Abdulfattah Khattab pens a piece titled Choke point: how the Iran war is stifling global energy markets. In it, he says, “A US-Israeli attack on Iran has turned into a regional war, sending Brent crude prices over $100 a barrel, and throwing shipping, inflation, and monetary policy into turmoil.”  And Amer Ziab Al-Tamimi explains how the war has shaken Gulf markets. “Certain sectors have been hit hard by the impact of Iran’s missiles and drones, but regional economies have also shown a degree of resilience,” he says.

Zooming out to the broader region, Amr Emam pens a piece titled Egypt fears an unrestrained Israel if Iran collapses. In it, he says, “Cairo and Tehran have been at loggerheads since 1979, but the Iranian threat has always acted as a check on Israeli ambitions. If Iran is completely defeated, Israel will reign supreme.” And in Lebanon, where Israel has also waged a war on Hezbollah, sending large swathes of the population in the south into displacement, David Schenker says, “The Lebanese government has effectively chosen war with Israel because of its unwillingness to risk civil war by attempting to disarm the group."

And last but not least, as we approach the final days of Ramadan, our Culture writers pen pieces about the holy month. For his part, Ibrahim Tutunji looks at Riyadh's Ramadan nights: spirituality, culture, and fun, while Yasmin Abdullah pens a piece titled Seasons of light: Ramadan through ancient travellers' eyes. “From Mecca and Damascus to Cairo, travellers across the centuries recorded the rhythms of Ramadan, documenting lantern-lit mosques, night prayers, learning circles, and the generosity of shared iftars,” she writes.