Khamenei, Haman, and a Purim for the Ages

This evening, Jews around the world will celebrate Purim, one of the narrowest escapes and greatest triumphs in biblical history. Around 2,500 years ago, Esther and her uncle Mordecai thwarted Haman’s scheme to convince King Ahasuerus to slaughter all the captive Jews in Persia. The skill with which these heroes staved off destruction has heartened Jews and haunted their enemies ever since.

One person who will not join the Purim festivities is the modern Haman, Ali Khamenei. Along with several of his top subordinates, the supreme leader of Iran died Saturday morning in the first minutes of a ferocious Israeli-American onslaught. Like Haman, Khamenei made fundamental strategic mistakes that cost him dearly. Iran’s fate will depend on if his successors learn from his errors.

Haman and Khamenei achieved spectacular successes. Haman became one of the most powerful men in the Persian empire; on Oct. 6, 2023, the ayatollah looked like one of the more effective hard power strategists alive. His network of terrorist henchmen grew across the region and terrified his neighbors. His arsenal of missiles and drones ballooned so quickly that he could export them to Russia, which along with China backed his moves.

The "Great Satan" in America seemed incapable of responding effectively, too. For decades, the United States had blocked aspiring hegemons in the region, but for the most part it sputtered impotently as Iran backed Bashar al-Assad in Syria, the Houthis in Yemen, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and militias across Iraq. The only serious setback had been the death of Qassem Soleimani.

Haman’s and Khamenei’s ambition grew along with their power. The Persian courtier thought the king’s favor enabled him to destroy anyone who, like Mordecai, refused to bow to him. After the Oct. 7 attacks, Khamenei counted on the threat from his terrorist networks, drones, and long-range missiles to dissuade Israel and the United States from striking back against Iran. He correctly sized up Joe Biden, who was terrified of further fighting in the Middle East. Biden waffled as the Houthis closed the Red Sea to most shipping, other Iranian proxies killed three Americans in January 2024, and Iran even attempted to assassinate Donald Trump.

But both men’s strategic acumen evaporated at the moment of success. Haman somehow failed to realize that Mordecai was a relation of the queen; Khamenei underestimated Benjamin Netanyahu and his countrymen. Iran’s Arab lackeys failed to coordinate effectively, so Israel counterattacked Hamas while Hezbollah refrained from anything more serious than pinprick strikes. Israel crippled Hezbollah with a surprise attack in late 2024 and in June 2025, similarly paralyzed Iran. Trump then dispatched the Air Force to bomb heavily fortified Iranian sites, including key nuclear facilities.

Israel’s self-defense has looked very different than Esther’s and Mordecai’s. Both were skilled at intelligence gathering: Mordecai gained favor with the king by exposing a coup attempt, and Israel has thoroughly penetrated Khamenei’s operation and that of many of his minions. But the Jews celebrated at Purim had to persuade the king to let their people defend themselves. Israel does not need to ask anyone for permission.

Despite the fevered stories about the "Israel lobby," the tight bond between Israel and the United States depends far more on Israeli steel than on silver tongues or golden gifts. The alliance serves both countries well. Iran has attacked both countries repeatedly since the 1979 revolution, so they share a common enemy. American assistance provides enormous benefits for Israel—for example, American refueling aircraft have enabled Israel to drop about half as many bombs in the first 30 hours of this campaign as in the entire 12-day June operation. Israel holds up its end of the bargain, too. Usually American aircraft need to open up hostile skies for their allies to operate, but Israel cleared out Iranian air defenses.

Haman and Khamenei both led their followers to ruin. Ahasuerus executed Haman on the gallows his councilor intended for Mordecai, and then directed his subjects to slaughter the Jews’ enemies. Israel has killed every senior Iranian military and terrorist leader. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi tacitly admitted that the regime cannot direct the military, which is senselessly attacking neutral countries. Russian and Chinese diplomats are sputtering impotently as the Americans and Israelis continue the bombing campaign.

Khamenei’s successor can stop the fighting at any time. Trump has said that he is ready to continue pummeling Iran for weeks, if needed, and also that he is willing to negotiate a reasonable settlement. Iran’s long record of delays and deceit have shredded its credibility though, so the new mullahs should bring a lot of concessions to the first meeting.

The tides of war are strong and capricious though, and Khamenei’s successor may choose to gamble on a surprise reversal. That would be very dangerous. Yesterday, the Israelis bombed the organizations that keep the Iranian people in line. At this rate, the Iranian people may also celebrate the next Purim.

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