US Strikes on Iran Enter Sixth Day, Soleimani Funeral Delayed, Succession Power Struggle Intensifies

**March 5** The U.S.-Israel joint military operation against Iran entered its sixth day Wednesday, with airstrike intensity continuing to escalate. Iran claims a U.S. torpedo struck one of its naval vessels off Sri Lanka’s coast, killing more than 80 sailors. Tehran vowed to retaliate against the U.S. at any location. Domestically, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died early in the airstrikes. Three days of funeral and mourning ceremonies scheduled in Tehran have been indefinitely postponed, with sources citing security concerns over fears gatherings could become new attack targets. Succession uncertainty has emerged: Khamenei’s son Mojtaba was widely seen as a likely immediate successor, but the funeral delay has injected doubt into Iran’s top power transition. Israel stated any successor continuing current policies could also become a target. Iran’s state television was hacked Wednesday, broadcasting a speech by exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi—now a top symbol of Iran’s foreign opposition. On the military front, Israel noted a drop in Iranian missile launches but said the threat persists. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed it attacked a U.S. oil tanker in the northern Persian Gulf and intends to control the Strait of Hormuz during wartime. Analysis: The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments. The conflict has significantly impacted global energy and financial markets. In the U.S., Republican senators rejected a measure to restrict the president’s military authority, leaving former President Trump’s decision-making on Iran military actions largely unconstrained.