Iran Leaders Project Control Amidst War

Iran's leadership, including President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, has adopted a new tactic of making public appearances in central Tehran to project resilience and authority amidst a sustained US-Israeli campaign of targeted assassinations and strikes. This campaign, which began on February 28 with the killing of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, aims to 'obliterate' the Iranian regime. Despite widespread destruction and civilian casualties, Iran appears emboldened, firing on Gulf countries hosting US troops and demonstrating its ability to block the Strait of Hormuz. US President Donald Trump has vowed more aggressive strikes, while Iran has responded with warnings of 'more crushing, broader and more destructive' attacks. Mediation efforts by Pakistan to end the war have seemingly failed. The public appearances and nightly rallies are also intended to sustain the morale of core supporters and raise the political cost of the strikes, while the regime employs harsh measures to prevent internal dissent.