Former envoy Anil Trigunayat says killing leaders will not erase Iran’s ideological foundations amid US–Israel regime change push.
A joint United States–Israel operation that reportedly killed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has intensified speculation about regime change in Tehran, with former Indian diplomat Anil Trigunayat warning that while leaders can be eliminated, ideologies endure.
Speaking exclusively to StratNews Global, Trigunayat, India’s former ambassador to Jordan, said the February 28 strike under “Operation Epic Fury” marked a calculated decapitation strategy aimed at reshaping Iran’s political order. He alleged that American and Israeli intelligence agencies, including the CIA and Mossad, coordinated closely in executing the operation.
According to Trigunayat, Washington’s objective goes beyond removing a single individual. “The regime is not just one person. The supreme leader was a symbol, but there is an ideology that survives after him,” he said, questioning whether the United States and Israel can fundamentally alter Iran’s ideological orientation.
Tensions had escalated after Israeli air strikes targeted Tehran hours before Oman’s foreign minister announced “significant progress” in US–Iran nuclear negotiations, with the next round scheduled for March 6. Those diplomatic efforts were overtaken by what Trigunayat described as a renewed military campaign, calling Operation Epic Fury a continuation of “Operation Midnight Hammer,” launched in June 2025 under the Donald Trump administration.
Unlike the earlier operation, which he said focused on degrading Iran’s capabilities, Trigunayat argued that the latest strike directly targeted the Iranian leadership in pursuit of regime change.
He added that Iran’s economic strain, sanctions, domestic discontent and its large youth population may have been viewed as vulnerabilities ripe for intervention.
Trigunayat also argued that the post–World War II international order is eroding. “Today, might is right. There is a certain impunity that superpowers and middle powers are enjoying,” he said, suggesting power politics are overriding established norms.
He further speculated that efforts could be made to install a more “pliable” regime in Tehran, raising the possibility of figures such as Reza Pahlavi or other alternatives emerging in a post-Khamenei scenario.
