Iranians have a lot to think over at the moment, and having just lost an iconic figure who played a large part in the meaning and purpose of its religious and political elite in Tehran, there’s a need for time to recover from such a momentous loss.
Although some contest it’s not a big difference, and another has come to replace him, Ali Khamenei put more into his diary than a retiring professor of Islamic law might do, showing he had a real zeal for power that left a void in the short term.
As Iranians find their feet in this new interim, a refreshed power structure will kick into action and will put on a much more updated show of leadership and strength than before. It will likely have more of an impact than we can imagine now.
This is the changeover that Iranians had thought over, but had not planned for in such a way. They also have to keep in mind that Israel followed through on its main threat. Its biggest rival, having eliminated a Supreme Leader, is in a better position than previously.
There’s no doubt that tensions are high and will remain so for a long time, but pragmatists have helped to stabilise Iran in recent times, and even if they’ve provoked doubt that not everyone really benefits from holding back from outright war, they may help to keep the peace.