Revolutionary Guards Corp

On Thursday, US President JD Vance said the United States was investigating the strike. "We're investigating it because obviously we care. We want to know."

Criminal proxies, public targeting videos, and loosely organized intermediaries give Tehran deniability while creating unpredictable security risks.

The continued clashes between the US and Iran have led to fewer vessels traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, even as the US lifted its naval blockade on Iranian ports.

The problem is that Iran is not governed by one power center. It is a three-headed dragon. One head wears a religious turban, one carries a military weapon, and one wears a political suit.

This comes after Kuwait banished two Iranian diplomats and declared them persona non grata after Iran said Kuwait and Bahrain were directly responsible for the attacks.

The man who built his power through violence, assassinations, and intimidation met his end within the very reality of perpetual conflict that he himself cultivated.

The Islamic Republic can stage a march showing banners and military weaponry, manufacturing an appearance of unity. But when legitimacy is imposed on the people, then it's no longer legitimate.

If change occurs in Iran, it will come from within, driven by a combination of public pressure, economic collapse, shifting loyalties, and organizational capacity.

The more I learned, even from a distance about the Iranian people, the more I admired them.

Qaani succeeded Qasem Soleimani as commander after the latter was killed in a targeted operation by the United States in 2020.