The death of the medieval theocratic dictator of Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei — a diabolical fanatic who pursued nuclear weapons — is a moment of celebration that after 47 years of internal tyranny and oppression and external terrorism and war, freedom may finally be at hand for the people of Iran and peace for their Mideast neighbors, Arabs and Israelis.

Khamenei’s end came under Israeli bombs, which along with U.S. munitions, have been pummeling the regime’s leadership, military and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, but his death was his own doing.

After the 12-day war in June when the U.S. and Israel laid waste to Iran’s air defenses, missile systems and nuclear weapons infrastructure, Khamenei had an opportunity to abandon his aggression and his offensive weapons. But instead, he focused on rebuilding his missiles and nukes capabilities.

Then in January, the Iranian people by the millions took to the streets, demanding freedom and an end to the dictatorship which has tormented them since 1979. But they were met with savage brutality, with as many as 30,000 souls murdered by their own government.

President Donald Trump has had his diplomats at the negotiating table with Iran, but the Khamenei regime would not give in on missiles and nukes and terrorism. They had every chance to change their ways, but used the diplomatic process to stall as they sought to restore their weapons. The end came yesterday, in a series of daytime strikes from the U.S. and Israel targeting Khamenei and other leaders as well as weapons systems across the country.

Iran then launched missiles and drones against Israel as well as its neighbors Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Jordan and Syria. Hopefully, those are the death throes of the violent regime.

Despite the heavy bombing campaign, there will be no invasion of Iran by American or Israeli troops to overthrow the clerical regime. That will be up to the Iranian people, but they now have a chance for another popular revolution, 47 years after toppling the shah.

The best outcome would be for democracy to come to Iran and for the country to drop its offensive weapons programs. But If the clerical regime of the mullahs survives or if the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps seizes power, the same international policy must be maintained: Iran cannot have nukes, Iran cannot have offensive ballistic missiles and Iran cannot foment terrorism abroad. The Iranian people would still suffer under such a government, but their neighbors would no longer be under threat.

The people of Iran overwhelmingly wanted change and paid for that wish with their lives by the thousands. Now, thanks to American and Israeli actions, this is their opening to achieve that dream of a change. There is a better life, a path of peace and cooperation. Iran can be a rich and free country.

The future of Iran must be up to the people of Iran, not the mullahs.

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