'No One Knows Who Takes Over If Khamenei Is Removed': Rubio Hints At Preemptive Strike Against Iran

Last Updated:January 29, 2026, 07:03 IST

Marco Rubio said “no one knows” who would take over in Iran if Khamenei was removed, while defending a strengthened US military posture in the Middle East.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (File photo/AP)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday said “no one knows" who would take over in Iran if Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei were removed from power, warning lawmakers that such a scenario would be extraordinarily complex even as Washington strengthens its military posture in the Middle East amid rising tensions with Tehran.

Testifying before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Rubio raised the prospect of preemptive military action to protect American personnel and allied facilities in the region.

He also stressed that the internal structure of Iran’s ruling system makes any prediction about a post-Khamenei future highly uncertain.

NO ONE KNOWS WHAT COMES NEXT IN IRAN: RUBIO

Responding to questions about a possible post-regime scenario, Rubio said the outcome would be far from straightforward.

“That’s an open question," he told senators.

“No one knows what would take over."

He described Iran’s governance as divided between the supreme leader, the IRGC, and “quasi-elected individuals" who, he said, ultimately must clear major decisions with the top cleric.

“I don’t think anyone can give you a simple answer to what happens next in Iran if the supreme leader and the regime were to fall, other than the hope that there would be some ability to have somebody within their systems that you could work towards a similar transition," Rubio said.

Emphasising how entrenched the current order is, he added, “I would imagine it would be even far more complex than the one we’re describing now because you’re talking about a regime that’s in place for a very long time, so that’s going to require a lot of careful thinking if that eventuality ever presents itself."

News world 'No One Knows Who Takes Over If Khamenei Is Removed': Rubio Hints At Preemptive Strike Against Iran

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