Live data from Hacker News

Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is killed in Israeli strike, ending 36-year rule

npr.org

81–90 of 1001 posts

Re: Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is killed in Israeli strike, ending 36-year rule

#81

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. 10 million Iranians live outside Iran. They want a normal country again. Later today, I'm sure footage from LA, Toronto, London, Stockholm will be up.

They're not going to have a normal country. The United States under Trump isn't interested in a democratic Iran. They want a dictator they can control.

I think you’re right that it would be a puppet state under trump. But in three years it will be a puppet state under somebody else! And maybe that somebody would relinquish the strings.

Re: Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is killed in Israeli strike, ending 36-year rule

#82
post #72

America and Israel are lawless countries. Can you imagine other countries assassinating a foreign head of state and not getting immediate blowback?

There's no such thing as a legitimate dictator, and every one of them belongs six feet under.

Re: Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is killed in Israeli strike, ending 36-year rule

#83
post #73

If the hard-liners IRGC generals went with him then it might be a good thing for its economy. I have heard some rumors that China was frustrated that IRGC pushed against the deals and were not willing to accept foreign investments in key oil/infra projects because they sit on them -- and that was why China never put down any real investments after signing the deals.

IRGC or whatever succeed next should wise themselves and stop hedging about whatever next deal with US/EU.

I think the biggest problem of IRGC is that they grabbed a large share of economy but spent a lot of that in geopolitical expansion for the last 1-2 decades. This in turn contributed to a more fragile Iranian economy and high inflation, which makes them extremely unpopular among the people.

Re: Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is killed in Israeli strike, ending 36-year rule

#84
In my opinion the real problem for Iran lies in the north, on the border with Azerbaijan.

The Israeli-supplied Azeri military has already demonstrated its effectiveness when it curb stomped the unprepared and internally betrayed Armenian military and militias. Baku will eventually decide to intervene in the northern territories. If I had to guess, a "special military operation" into northern Iran is the most likely follow-up scenario goaded into and supplied of course by Israel/US. The goal will be to foment a civil war and begin the dismemberment process of Iran.

A little personal conspiracy theory I have is that after the last Israel/US intervention (when they mysteriously liquidated the only high-ranking and influential internal opposition of the Khamenei clan left) is that some sort of deal was worked out behind the scenes with the clan to get rid of the wizard-in-chief kinda like how Maduro was sold out. It is much easier to go to war with a country when it responds with only symbolic attacks and secretly promises to fight with one hand behind its back - provided cash and security flows for those at the top of course.

Re: Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is killed in Israeli strike, ending 36-year rule

#85
post #9

Either this will end in a fractured state with different factions OR another Ayatollah will be in charge. Just my guess from seeing similar stories play out in other countries though....

"Mission Accomplished"

We have such short memories don't we

Re: Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is killed in Israeli strike, ending 36-year rule

#86
I wonder how old the rest of the commentators are. I watched the Shock and Awe campaign. I watched Saddam fall. I remember thinking this is great.

Years later, I understand it was a complete folly. Removing Saddam in itself was good but what it did the wider region was not good.

Re: Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is killed in Israeli strike, ending 36-year rule

#87
post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What moment would that be? Begging for the Americans to bomb their former country?

At some point you have to decide: if my country is held back by a brutal dictatorial regime where civilians can't hope to topple it, is there anything else to do other than get external help?

Which Arab countries are better after US intervention? The last place that had a dictator is now ruled by ISIS.

Re: Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is killed in Israeli strike, ending 36-year rule

#89
post #25

The Iranian diaspora around the world is celebrating. Here's the scene in Berlin: https://youtu.be/NSbx_0mtk80?si=MJ_Bfvx8gVd1P1mm They've waited a very long time for this moment!

I have no doubt that they didn't like that the regime, which is why they left. But this assassination is no guarantee of change for the better. Far from it.

It's not a given - e.g. AFAIK most turks in Germany support Erdogan

Re: Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is killed in Israeli strike, ending 36-year rule

#90

The Iranian diaspora around the world is celebrating. Here's the scene in Berlin: https://youtu.be/NSbx_0mtk80?si=MJ_Bfvx8gVd1P1mm They've waited a very long time for this moment!

I can hear them from my window. They're really happy. Lots of honking, revving engines and shouting near Zoo.
Post reply on HN