A retired U.S. general has stated that neither the United States nor Israel will fully succeed in replacing the Iranian regime amid ongoing military operations. Former Lt. Gen. Mark Schwartz made the remark in an interview with Israel Hayom during the 20th day of the joint U.S.-Israeli campaigns, Operation Epic Fury and Operation Roaring Lion.
Key points
Details
Schwartz explained that the main obstacle to regime change is the depth of Iran’s leadership structure. “There are dozens, if not hundreds, of Iranian religious leaders who can replace the Supreme Leader if he is eliminated,” he said. He added that Iran’s intelligence services, Revolutionary Guard Corps, and military possess significant organizational resilience and can replenish top leadership if necessary.
The recent operations have included the elimination of Iran’s former Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed early in the campaign and succeeded by his son, Mojtaba Khamenei. Despite this, Schwartz warned against expecting a quick regime replacement, citing the regime’s entrenched system.
Schwartz is a career Green Beret with 33 years in the U.S. Army and has extensive experience in the Middle East, Europe, and North Africa. He currently chairs the advisory board of the National Special Forces Green Beret Memorial.
Separately, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard cautioned that if Iran’s regime survives Operation Epic Fury, it is likely to rebuild its military capabilities, including missiles and UAV forces. She noted that the operation is part of a broader regional shift that began after the Hamas attack on Israel in October 2023 and continued with last year’s 12-day war.
The campaign highlights ongoing tensions in the Middle East as U.S. and Israeli forces target Iranian-backed groups and assets, with the Pentagon seeking increased funding amid the conflict.
For more stories on this topic, visit our category page.
