Divisions Emerge in Iran's Leadership After Khamenei's Death Amid War Pressure

Following the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a US-Israel strike, divisions have surfaced within Iran's leadership between hardliners and pragmatic factions over war strategy. President Masoud Pezeshkian's apology to Gulf states sparked backlash from hardliners, including the Revolutionary Guards, though officials publicly deny any leadership rift. Meanwhile, clerics are reportedly accelerating the appointment of a new supreme leader amid ongoing US and Israeli military pressure on Tehran.