Demonstrators holding posters of late Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei shout slogans during a protest against Israel and the U.S. strikes on Iran. PHOTO: REUTERSA power vacuum in Iran could be chaotic on the ground, an Otago expert on the Middle East says. There was no clear successor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was reportedly killed yesterday, Dr Leon Goldsmith, of the University of Otago, said. Dr Goldsmith said the Israelis and Americans, despite having immense military power, could not control what would happen on the ground inside Iran. "They couldn't even protect the Supreme Leader when it was all signalled well in advance what was going to happen," he said.

Source: Otago Daily Times March 01, 2026 17:31 UTC