

Ray Takeyh on the War between Israel and Iran—and the Future of the Iranian Regime
Jun 19, 2025
Ray Takeyh, a senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and an expert on Iranian politics, shares insights on the ongoing war between Israel and Iran. He describes the Iranian regime as 'traumatized and stunned,' facing severe internal divisions and public unrest. Takeyh discusses the implications of military actions on Iran's nuclear capabilities and emphasizes that diminished power may lead the regime to act unpredictably. He believes that a post-Islamic Republic Iran has the potential for improvement, but cautions about regional security in this transition.
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Nuclear Program Setback
- Israel's recent strikes disabled about 14,000 centrifuges at Iran's Natanz nuclear facility, delaying Iran's nuclear program by about a year.
- The Fordow facility remains intact, posing a strategic uncertainty about Iran's nuclear capabilities.
Decapitation of Iranian Military
- Israeli operations have killed multiple top Iranian Revolutionary Guard commanders, severely damaging Iran's military leadership.
- Iran is appointing multiple backups for leadership roles due to heavy losses, indicating operational strain.
Widening Elite-Society Divide
- Iranian political elites have unified somewhat in response, but the gap between the regime and society widens due to economic and program failures.
- The destruction of the civilian nuclear program aggravates public grievances amidst worsening economic conditions.