Iran has entered a perilous new chapter following the death of Ali Khamenei and the rapid installation of his son Mojtaba, reportedly under pressure from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. The sudden leadership shift has intensified fears of internal fragmentation, elite power struggles, and a broader destabilization of the political system that has governed the country for nearly five decades.

Observers warn that without a stable and broadly accepted transition, the Islamic Republic risks descending into deeper chaos. A collapse of centralized authority could create a failed Islamist state marked by factional conflict and heightened regional instability, potentially posing greater dangers than the regime it replaces.