Iranians awoke Sunday for the first time in decades without supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei after he was killed in US-Israeli strikes, a profound shift in the nation’s history.
As Israel continues its attacks on Iran amid Tehran’s vow to avenge Khamenei’s death, people across the capital and beyond are grappling with conflicting feelings.
While the killing of Khamenei – a symbol, for many, of decades of brutal repression and economic mismanagement – prompted pockets of celebration Saturday night, others are voicing unease about what comes next, the implications of US intervention and anxiety about a widening regional war.
“We’re safe for now. There haven’t been…