US Edition
Battered by War, Tehran Responds with Repression and Paranoia
- Iran has been engaged in a shadow war with Israel that escalated into an open conflict in June 2025, with a ceasefire going into effect on June 24 in Tehran.
- The conflict intensified due to Israeli strikes that decapitated Iran's military command and nuclear sites, causing internal power struggles and raising questions about Supreme Leader Khamenei's health and authority.
- Khamenei, who is 86 years old, has been largely absent from public view, appearing only in recorded videos while the IRGC and senior commanders increasingly manage key strategic and security decisions.
- President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the war and public unity create an opportunity to rethink governance, while experts warn that prolonged silence from Khamenei fuels unease among loyalists and raises concerns of regime fragility.
- The ceasefire leaves Iran weakened economically and politically, with the IRGC solidified as regime backbone and possible succession plans under way, but significant uncertainty and risks of further unrest remain.
60 Articles
60 Articles
Hundreds of arrests and several executions: The Iranian leadership is looking for supposed spies and saboteurs.
Khamenei's Bunker Leadership: What Does It Mean For Iran's Future?
As Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei vanished into a bunker during the Iran-Israel war, the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps stepped into the spotlight. Did his absence expose deep cracks in Iran’s leadership -- and set the stage for a new era of military dominance?
Why is Iran's supreme leader still hiding?
Three-thirty in the morning, Tehran time, June 13. The darkness is pierced by the roar of fighter jets and anti-aircraft fire. A series of explosions shake the city. Initial situation assessments pass at lightning speed from messenger to messenger, from mouth to ear. In an apartment in one of the capital's buildings, a raging fire breaks out after a drone visited the location. In those dramatic minutes, the Iranian leadership would discover that…
Where is Ayatollah Khamenei? Iran's Supreme Leader appears on TV, but his whereabouts still a mystery
Ayatollah Khamenei's disappearance following a brutal 12-day war with Israel raised concerns about his health and the future of Iran's leadership. As the nation grapples with the aftermath, speculation grows about Khamenei's succession plans and the stability of the Islamic Republic.
In the hours leading up to his reappearance on Thursday, much had been speculated about the fate of Iran’s supreme leader. “Ayatola Ali Khamenei has not been seen publicly or heard from him in almost a week. This absence has surprised and bewildered everyone, from political circles to the general public,” pointed out The New York Times, as the BBC pointed out in an article: “It is believed that he is being held in refuge and incommunicado for fe…
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 43% of the sources lean Right
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
