The US-Iran war: Iran's leadership losses, succession and protests
Gone quiet · last story Sep 2, 2026
What this arc covers
Casualties among top government and military officials lead to succession proceedings and changes within the ruling apparatus.
Earliest story we hold Dec 29, 2025 · 54 stories · 197 independent sources (counted once each) · 247 days
Part of The US-Iran war
- Trump's 2025 nuclear talks with IranFeb 7 – Nov 16, 2025
- The 12-day Israel-Iran war of June 2025 and the US strikes on Iran's nuclear sitesJun 12 – Jul 11, 2025
- Iran's leadership losses, succession and protestsThis arcDec 29, 2025 – Sep 2, 2026
- Strikes and their immediate aftermathJan 9 – Sep 25, 2026
- Ceasefire and peace negotiationsJan 12 – Sep 28, 2026
- Passage through the Strait of HormuzFeb 17 – Sep 21, 2026
- Israel's 2026 war with Hezbollah and its first direct talks with LebanonFeb 23 – Sep 17, 2026
- Congress's war powers votes and the fight over the warFeb 28 – Sep 27, 2026
Show remaining 4 arcs
- The drone attack that killed three US troops in Jordan and the US strikes in replyJan 23 – Dec 17, 2024
- Iran and Israel's first direct strikes on each other, in April and October 2024Apr 1 – Nov 13, 2024
- Oil prices, gas prices and the market falloutFeb 28 – Sep 28, 2026
- The Houthis' missile and drone attacks on Saudi ArabiaJul 13 – Sep 26, 2026
Where it standsnewest first · each bar runs left to right by leaning
Sep 22026Trump: 'When are the Iranian people going to rise up and fight?'5 articles · 4 independent sources0 left, 1 center, 2 right
Aug 112026Iran’s supreme leader elevates military veterans willing to confront the US8 articles · 7 independent sources0 left, 2 center, 0 right
Aug 102026Mohsen Rezaei appointed as secretary of Iran's top security body8 articles · 6 independent sources1 left, 0 center, 2 right
Key momentsthe most covered; every story is below
- Jan 11 – 14, 2026Trump Cancels Meetings With Iranian Officials and Tells Protesters ‘Help Is on Its Way'42 articles · 27 independent sources
- Jan 11 – 14, 2026Death toll from Iranian protests surpasses 2,000, activists say, as chaos recalls 1979 revolution41 articles · 25 independent sources
- Jan 11, 2026Death toll from protests in Iran increases as Trump says Iran wants to talk
- Jan 13, 2026The death toll from a crackdown on protests in Iran jumps to over 2,500, activists say
- Feb 28 – Mar 1, 2026Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, is dead, Trump says210 articles · 74 independent sources
- Mar 4 – 9, 2026Iran names Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his slain father as supreme leader58 articles · 37 independent sources
- Mar 5 – 11, 2026Iran selects Mojtaba Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader49 articles · 29 independent sources
- Mar 5, 2026Trump: 'I Have to be Involved in the Appointment' of Iran's Next Leader
- Mar 9, 2026Mojtaba Khamenei: son and successor to Iran's supreme leader
- Mar 17 – 18, 2026Iran Confirms Killing of Security Chief Ali Larijani in Israeli Strike87 articles · 44 independent sources
- Mar 17, 2026Israel says it killed 2 top Iranian officials in wartime blow to country's leadership
- Mar 18, 2026Israel says it killed Iran's intelligence chief in overnight strike
- Jul 2 – 5, 2026Iran begins dayslong funeral for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in war71 articles · 30 independent sources
- Jul 2, 2026Senior Chinese lawmaker to attend Khamenei's funeral
- Jul 2, 2026Iran prepares for dayslong funeral for late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in war
- Jul 4, 2026Dayslong funeral for late Supreme Leader Khamenei begins in Iran, in photos
Who covered it, over timeindependent sources per week, by side
Dec 29Feb 16Apr 6May 25Jul 13Aug 31
LeftCenterRight
Point at or tap a week to see its count by side.
Every week as a table
| Week of | Left | Center | Right | Articles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 29, 2025 | 7 | 7 | 12 | 43 |
| Jan 5, 2026 | 10 | 26 | 9 | 103 |
| Jan 12, 2026 | 18 | 22 | 15 | 136 |
| Jan 19, 2026 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 6 |
| Jan 26, 2026 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 24 |
| Feb 2, 2026 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Feb 9, 2026 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 |
| Feb 23, 2026 | 12 | 43 | 22 | 224 |
| Mar 2, 2026 | 5 | 8 | 8 | 27 |
| Mar 9, 2026 | 10 | 19 | 15 | 88 |
| Mar 16, 2026 | 10 | 16 | 9 | 71 |
| Mar 23, 2026 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Apr 6, 2026 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 |
| Apr 20, 2026 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 |
| May 25, 2026 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
| Jun 29, 2026 | 8 | 13 | 7 | 111 |
| Jul 6, 2026 | 8 | 11 | 8 | 73 |
| Aug 3, 2026 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 6 |
| Aug 10, 2026 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 11 |
| Aug 31, 2026 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 |
Stories before June 28, 2026 come from archived pages, so who covered them is limited to the outlets we recovered for that period.
26% left · 55% center · 19% right of 197 independent sources among the outlets we track, across 54 stories.
Every storyoldest first
December 2025
Dec 29– 30Protests erupt in Iran over currency’s plunge to record low6 articles · 6 independent sources2 left, 1 center, 2 rightJanuary 2026
Jan 1– 6At least 35 people have been killed and 1,200 detained in Iran’s economic protests - Boston News, Weather, Sports25 articles · 17 independent sources4 left, 7 center, 2 right- Jan 2– 5Trump threatens Iran as more protest deaths reported – DW35 articles · 22 independent sources2 left, 4 center, 11 right
- Jan 6– 9Iran supreme leader signals crackdown coming as protesters are 'ruining their own streets' for Trump11 articles · 10 independent sources2 left, 3 center, 3 right
- Jan 6– 13Iran Protests May Finally End The Regime36 articles · 25 independent sources5 left, 14 center, 2 right
- Jan 6Security forces clash with protesters in Iran’s main market as at least 36 killed in demonstrations5 articles · 5 independent sources1 left, 1 center, 0 right
- Jan 8– 13Protests escalate in Iran with little information getting in or out22 articles · 16 independent sources7 left, 5 center, 0 right
- Jan 8– 10Internet service in Iran cut off or restricted as deadly protests reach a possible tipping point13 articles · 12 independent sources3 left, 2 center, 4 right
- Jan 10Protesters in Tehran describe seeing “bodies piled up” in hospitals after crackdown by authorities5 articles · 5 independent sources0 left, 1 center, 2 right
- Jan 11Iran warns US troops and Israel will be targets if America strikes over protests as death toll rises to 11624 articles · 19 independent sources3 left, 6 center, 4 right
- Jan 11– 18Iranian official says verified deaths in Iran protests reaches at least 5,00012 articles · 10 independent sources5 left, 1 center, 2 right
- Jan 11– 14Death toll from Iranian protests surpasses 2,000, activists say, as chaos recalls 1979 revolution41 articles · 25 independent sources6 left, 8 center, 6 right
- Jan 11– 14Trump Cancels Meetings With Iranian Officials and Tells Protesters ‘Help Is on Its Way'42 articles · 27 independent sources2 left, 6 center, 10 right
- Jan 12– 16Iran protest movement subsides in face of 'brutal' crackdown14 articles · 12 independent sources3 left, 4 center, 2 right
- Jan 12Iran says 'prepared for war' as alarm grows over protest toll7 articles · 7 independent sources0 left, 2 center, 2 right
- Jan 12– 13Trump has options to address Iran's killing of protesters, not all plans include military strikes5 articles · 5 independent sources0 left, 1 center, 3 right
- Jan 14– 16Trump says Iran has called off execution of protesters amid fears for the fate of Erfan Soltani27 articles · 16 independent sources2 left, 3 center, 4 right
- Jan 14Iran signals fast trials and executions for protesters as death toll in crackdown goes over 2,50023 articles · 17 independent sources1 left, 7 center, 2 right
- Jan 17– 22Iran says 3,117 killed in protests, activists fear 'far higher' toll7 articles · 6 independent sources1 left, 0 center, 3 right
- Jan 22– 27Activists say more than 6,000 people killed in Iran’s crackdown on nationwide protests16 articles · 15 independent sources3 left, 5 center, 2 right
February 2026
Feb 1– 2Iran's supreme leader warns that any U.S. attack would spark 'regional war'19 articles · 15 independent sources5 left, 4 center, 2 right- Feb 12Deaths in Iran’s crackdown on protests reach at least 7,000, activists say6 articles · 6 independent sources1 left, 0 center, 2 right
- Feb 28– Mar 1Who might replace Iran’s supreme leader? There’s no clear successor29 articles · 23 independent sources2 left, 8 center, 2 right
- Feb 28– Mar 1Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's supreme leader, is dead, Trump says210 articles · 74 independent sources12 left, 35 center, 22 right
- Feb 28– Mar 1Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ruled Iran with defiance and brutality for 36 years. For many Iranians, he will not be revered7 articles · 5 independent sources0 left, 2 center, 1 right
March 2026
Mar 1Iran vows revenge for slain supreme leader despite Trump threat6 articles · 5 independent sources0 left, 4 center, 0 right- Mar 4– 9Iran names Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his slain father as supreme leader58 articles · 37 independent sources8 left, 14 center, 7 right
- Mar 5– 11Iran selects Mojtaba Khamenei as its new Supreme Leader49 articles · 29 independent sources2 left, 8 center, 13 right
- Mar 9What we know on the 10th day of the US and Israel’s war with Iran12 articles · 10 independent sources0 left, 1 center, 0 right
- Mar 9– 13Iran’s new supreme leader is wounded and ‘likely disfigured,’ Hegseth says13 articles · 10 independent sources1 left, 2 center, 4 right
- Mar 10– 12Iran's new leader threatens US In his first message10 articles · 9 independent sources3 left, 3 center, 2 right
- Mar 17– 18Iran Confirms Killing of Security Chief Ali Larijani in Israeli Strike87 articles · 44 independent sources10 left, 16 center, 9 right
- Mar 26Iranian naval commander Alireza Tangsiri killed in attack, Israel says7 articles · 6 independent sources0 left, 1 center, 4 right
April 2026
Apr 6Iran war: Top intelligence chief killed in Israeli strike5 articles · 4 independent sources0 left, 0 center, 3 right- Apr 22Trump claims Iran’s regime is fractured. The reality is more complicated.6 articles · 6 independent sources0 left, 2 center, 0 right
May 2026
May 26– 28Iranians are back online after a monthslong shutdown but face heavy restrictions15 articles · 13 independent sources2 left, 2 center, 2 rightJuly 2026
Jul 2– 3Iran warns US, Israel against attacks ahead of funeral processions for Khamenei8 articles · 6 independent sources0 left, 3 center, 0 right- Jul 2– 5Iran begins dayslong funeral for the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in war71 articles · 30 independent sources5 left, 9 center, 2 right
- Jul 2– 4Iran: Dignitaries arrive for Ayatollah Khamenei's funeral32 articles · 19 independent sources4 left, 4 center, 2 right
- Jul 3Powerful general in Iran emerges from hiding as Tehran prepares for Khamenei's dayslong funeral13 articles · 8 independent sources0 left, 2 center, 2 right
- Jul 3Iran sends a defiant message to Trump with colossal funeral for slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei6 articles · 5 independent sources0 left, 1 center, 0 right
- Jul 3Iran prepares for dayslong funeral for late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in war6 articles · 3 independent sources1 left, 1 center, 1 right
- Jul 4– 9Iran to bury slain Supreme Leader in culmination of mass funeral17 articles · 9 independent sources2 left, 4 center, 0 right
- Jul 6– 8Funeral processions held in holy Iraqi cities for Iran’s late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei13 articles · 6 independent sources4 left, 1 center, 0 right
- Jul 6– 9Iran says millions are mourning Khamenei. That’s not the full picture8 articles · 8 independent sources1 left, 2 center, 1 right
- Jul 7– 10Iran: Anti-US anger dominates Khamenei funeral ceremonies15 articles · 12 independent sources1 left, 3 center, 7 right
- Jul 8Funeral prayers in Iraq for Iranian supreme leader commence after body arrives in holy city10 articles · 7 independent sources1 left, 1 center, 0 right
- Jul 8Iraq's holy cities to host funeral processions for Khamenei9 articles · 7 independent sources0 left, 4 center, 0 right
- Jul 9– 10Iran’s supreme leader missed his father’s momentous funeral – now what?9 articles · 9 independent sources0 left, 2 center, 0 right
- Jul 9Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been laid to rest months after U.S. and Israeli airstrikes killed him6 articles · 5 independent sources0 left, 3 center, 1 right
August 2026
Aug 5– 6Iran president says contact with supreme leader is 'very difficult'6 articles · 5 independent sources0 left, 1 center, 4 right- Aug 10Mohsen Rezaei appointed as secretary of Iran's top security body8 articles · 6 independent sources1 left, 0 center, 2 right
- Aug 11Iran’s supreme leader elevates military veterans willing to confront the US8 articles · 7 independent sources0 left, 2 center, 0 right
September 2026
Sep 2Trump: 'When are the Iranian people going to rise up and fight?'5 articles · 4 independent sources0 left, 1 center, 2 right