The death of Iranian President Raisi in a helicopter crash last weekend is not likely to have any immediate impact on the regime itself in terms of the proxy war with Israel, hyper-intense relations with the U.S., or throngs of activists hoping to seed some growth for change. The Iranian regime will maintain its current policies and activities without missing a beat.
The bigger question now shifts a bit away from Israel and toward the Gulf countries and a U.S. missile defense pact … This week, American officials attended a summit in Riyadh to garner support for a regional defense project. Effectively a regional missile shield, the project has now gained theoretical momentum after Israel managed to intercept Iranian missiles in April following the Israeli leveling of its diplomatic facilities in Syria, which claimed the life of a key Iranian general.