Iran at Crossroads: US, Israel Must Learn from History After Khamenei's Killing

• The killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and senior IRGC commanders marks a new, dramatically altered phase in the US-Israel-Iran confrontation, moving from missile exchanges to strategic decapitation.
• Despite extraordinary military success, the core question remains whether leadership decapitation equals regime collapse, as Iran's ideological hostility towards Israel is deeply rooted and predates current conflicts.
• Iran's military strategy, compensating for a lack of modern air force with missiles and drones, has been met by Israel's layered defenses and US regional infrastructure, culminating in the recent strikes.
• While the strikes demonstrate stunning intelligence and operational achievement, history warns that external shocks can lead to internal consolidation rather than fragmentation, with a wounded regime potentially hardening.
• Washington and Tel Aviv face a historic decision: declare limited objectives achieved and seek diplomacy from strength, or pursue systemic collapse, risking wider instability and prolonged conflict, with significant implications for global stability and India's economic interests.