Without a stable objective, military action risks becoming an open-ended process, rather than a strategy with a clear end goal

The appointment represents one of the most consequential political shifts in the Islamic Republic in more than three decades

By appointing Ali Khamenei's son as the country's new Supreme Leader, the regime is prioritising survival over doctrinal coherence

Will war redraw America's political map?

There are few examples of successful US regime-change operations in history. And without permanent ground troop presence, these wins can easily be reversed.

When states are attacked, authority gravitates towards institutions capable of mobilising resources, enforcing discipline, and coordinating a military response

The appointment suggests the Revolutionary Guards have the upper hand

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.

The announcement last week that the US was pulling its 1,000 troops there has sparked worry, as American presence is seen as crucial for integrating the Kurds and fighting IS

Washington and Tel Aviv may think the key to ending Iran's regime is to kill its missile bank and capabilities, but sometimes strategy matters more than hardware