Latest stories Just cause to question and fear the corporation

Ishiba's Trump trade pact fuels 'unequal treaty' firestorm

Court gives Sara Duterte a new lease on political life

While Khamenei still earned official praise from elements of his coalition over the handling of the war, critics have questioned his strategic handling of the conflict with Israel, arguing that the confrontation exposed Iran's military vulnerabilities without delivering meaningful gains – something Iran has contested vehemently in its own evaluation of the conflict .

Meanwhile, some point to his advanced age and long-standing resistance to change as obstacles to the country's political and economic revival, with even his closest adviser, Ali Akbar Velayati , suggesting now is the time for reform.

Reform or redouble?

Given this confluence of negative events and perceptions, Khamenei now faces a choice. He still commands deep loyalty among conservative domestic audiences and the security establishment, yet his government's standing beyond that is receiving more critique than ever .

At the same time, the postwar landscape has created an opening for reform that could shore up the Islamic Republic's future, calm social pressures and reopen doors to diplomacy and investment.

One path for Khamanei would be to remain as the supreme leader but gradually delegate, signaling controlled change from within. Another, more dramatic option would echo Pope Benedict XVI 's precedent: a formal abdication that preserves his spiritual and symbolic standing, allowing him to maintain a 'Leader Emeritus' title, while transferring day-to-day authority to a successor empowered to slowly introduce incremental reform without publicly diminishing him.

Such a staged handover could let the system adapt, give younger elites political space and allow policy shifts to proceed without the notion of losing credibility.

But there also remains the reality that Khamenei's loyal conservative followers command a strong pull with domestic audiences. And those factions, especially after the latest conflict, will be less inclined to consider reform and far more interested in cracking down on potential information leaks that led Israel to conduct such precise operations against military elites in the first place.

Yet given the position of the government, reform is inevitably on the agenda again. And some of the reforms being quietly discussed include loosening internet restrictions, particularly on popular social media platforms widely used by Iran's large and youthful population.

Access to digital spaces has become not just a cultural and economic issue but a marker of generational culture. In the wake of the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini , whose detention by morality police and subsequent death led to widespread protests, Iran's leaders have faced calls to revise the government's strict morality laws.

If the government made reforms to that end, which have already been unofficially and anecdotally reported in places, it could help ease tensions with women and younger Iranians without fundamentally challenging the system's foundations.

On the international front, Iran has already begun to recalibrate its foreign policy, as reflected in its accession to the BRICS group of nations in 2024. This move suggests a desire to become less isolationist and to engage more actively on the global stage.

Further steps could include seeking membership in other international institutions and organizations in exchange for commitments on regional and global issues, along with enhanced cooperation with nuclear watchdogs and regulatory bodies.

If successful, that might unlock long-stalled investment opportunities and trade partnerships, helping to revive an economy hit by years of US-imposed sanctions and isolation. Each of these steps, while modest in isolation, could signal a broader shift – not in a full overnight transformation, but a cautious adaptation that shows a willingness to adapt.

The million-dollar question

This is all related to the most pressing international question of Iran's nuclear program, which remains unresolved despite the recent conflict and reported severe damage from US bunker-busting strikes . Tehran continues to insist that its nuclear ambitions are purely peaceful and civilian in nature and would be loathe to abandon the program.

For the Islamic Republic, the program is more than a strategic deterrent; it stands as a marker of national pride and technological advancement. Whether under the current supreme leader or a future successor, the issue will remain central to the identity and long-term vision of the state.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei holds a meeting with senior officials at his residence in Tehran, Iran, on April 15, 2025. Photo: Iranian Leader Press Office / Handout

Despite threats to pull out of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty during the recent conflict with Israel, Iran remains a signatory and maintains that its nuclear program operates within the bounds of international law.