J UST OVER a week ago it seemed as if Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, might be part of a breakthrough with America. Talks involving the two countries were approaching decision-hour. The Americans were offering to lift sanctions in exchange for Iran rolling back its nuclear programme.

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has reportedly nominated three clerics as potential successors as he faces threats of assassination by Israel in the ongoing war. Khamenei's son Mojtaba, who is also a cleric, has not been named in the list of successors.