Iran's Leader Dead in Airstrike—With No Playbook for What Comes Next

Ayatollah Khamenei, who led Iran for 37 years, was killed in an airstrike in February 2026. Iran must now choose a new leader while still at war—something it has never done before. The Supreme Leader holds near-absolute power in Iran's system. His predecessor died in peacetime. This succession under fire creates chaos exactly when Iran needs stability most.