Political faction competing for post-Khamenei succession
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Positioning for influence in succession; seeking to balance IRGC power with civilian government
The USS Abraham Lincoln Carrier Strike Group has operated in the Arabian Sea since late January 2026, joined by USS Gerald R. Ford in the Mediterranean and USS George H.W. Bush, creating triple-carrier presence amid Iran's crackdown on December 2025 protests. On February 25, the U.S. deployed 12 F-22 Raptors to Israel's Ovda Airbase alongside KC-46 tankers—the largest Middle East buildup since 2003. On February 28, U.S.-Israel 'Operation Epic Fury' struck Iranian nuclear sites, navy, and infrastructure, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated March 1 with attacks on 27 U.S. bases, Israeli sites, and Gulf states. Hezbollah opened a Lebanon front March 2. By March 25, the Pentagon deployed 2,000-3,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division's Immediate Response Force to supplement 50,000+ U.S. service members already in the region, bringing total ground forces to 6,000-8,000 near Iran.
Updated Mar 26
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