Peloni: This remains a potent possibility as Trump’s patience with the regime seems somewhat indefinite, even while leaving the blockade on Iranian shipping in place. The question of whether regime collapse would outlast the regime’s willingness to accept terms and thereby survive to reign down madness upon the world once again would seem to argue that the regime will in fact survive this test of wills.
Despite the end of Operation Roaring Lion, Tehran continues to issue military threats and project strength. But beneath the surface, a deepening economic and social crisis could turn any agreement into a lifeline for the regime, rather than an end to the war.
Prof. Eyal Zisser | April 26, 2026
The declaration of a ceasefire, which has for now brought Operation Roaring Lion to an end, was met in Israel, and among many in the US, with a sour feeling. The Iranian regime did not collapse, as some in Washington and Jerusalem had hoped, and it even continued to rain missiles down on us. By all indications, the number of missiles it still has may be enough for many more weeks of fighting. The fire could indeed resume at any moment, but it is clear that the US administration is focused on reaching a permanent agreement that will end the war.
Abu Muhammad al-Jolani. Photo by Kremlin.ru, CC BY 4.0, 
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