Retired U.S. General Mark Schwartz has expressed skepticism regarding the potential of the U.S. and Israel to successfully replace the Iranian regime. In remarks published by Israel Hayom, he explained that the complex structure of Iran’s leadership, which includes scores of religious leaders poised to take charge, makes it nearly impossible to eliminate the regime entirely. Schwartz highlighted that there are layers of leadership ready to fill any power vacuum left by the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, should he be removed from power.

The context of Schwartz's comments comes amid ongoing joint military operations by the U.S. and Israel against Iran, designated as Operation Epic Fury and Operation Roaring Lion, which have now entered their 20th day. The operations highlight the strategic focus both countries are placing on countering Iran’s influence and capabilities in the region. Schwartz's assessment raises questions about the longevity and effectiveness of these military efforts, especially in the face of resilient and deeply entrenched Iranian leadership structures.

Moreover, Schwartz notes that Iran’s military and intelligence capabilities, primarily represented by the Revolutionary Guards, provide the regime with an inherent ability to replace its leaders promptly. This resilience underlines the challenges faced by any external efforts aimed at regime change, indicating that military intervention may not yield the desired outcomes in the long term and could lead to further instability in the region.