This is a series, I in the world. I'm John Bachelor.

Abraham Raise is gone. What does it mean for the Islamic Republic of Iran? What does it mean for the

neighborhood? This is the chief sponsor of terror in the world. At the same time

it is allied with the enemies of NATO and the United States.

That would be Russia, that would be China, and certainly the connection to North Korea is not hidden. I welcome Brandon Wicert, the

author most recently of the Shadow War Iran's quest for supremacy before Rhese he

left the scene.

Brandon, a very good evening to you, you've written for the Washington Times

that this is the Sarajevo moment, the Franz Ferdinand moment.

What is your intention with that comparison good evening to you?

Well good evening John and thank you for having me.

Yes I open up the piece with the old Mark Twain saw that history doesn't repeat but it does rhyme and why I say that is because I do not believe

Ryacy was assassinated. I do believe this was a legitimate accident, a freak accident brought on by shoddy maintenance of the helicopter, human air, and bad weather.

But it is all combined to have what I fear is a similar effect that Sarajevo in 1914 had, which was basically world leader

dies and it triggers this massive explosion of

geopolitical instability that leads to a horrific war and right now his death,

Rhese's death has taken place at a time of maximum geopolitical tension.

We're told that Raise was a candidate to be the new Supreme Leader, when and if Hameen he leaves the scene, he's 85 and been ill for some time.

One of two candidates.

The other candidate named Mottwejebai,

how many is the son of the Supreme Leader.

With Raisis' exit, We have only one named possible successor. At the same time we have an empty chair in the leadership of Iran that needs to be filled according to the Constitution in 50 days.

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