Today Venezuela, tomorrow Iran: can the Islamic Republic survive a second Trump presidency?

Perhaps no one outside of Venezuela should care more about the US invasion and capture of President Nicolás Maduro than the Islamic Republic of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

By: Aaron Pilkington, University of Denver, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: January 7, 2026

Words: 1,532

Last Updated: 2 days, 7 hours ago

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By Aaron Pilkington, University of Denver

Perhaps no one outside of Venezuela or Cuba should care more about the U.S. capture of nominal President Nicolás Maduro than the Islamic Republic of Iran’s supreme leader, Ali Khamenei.

Khamenei and his regime are in trouble, and it’s not clear how they would survive should the Trump administration decide to support the millions who want a new government system without Khamenei and his ilk.

Iran …

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