Former US Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense Michael Mulroy has said that Iran will not submit to Washington even after the killing of its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli attack. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Mulroy described the incident, following the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, as a second attempt by the United States to overthrow another country's government, though he noted that Iran’s situation differs significantly from Venezuela’s.

Mulroy explained that while Maduro managed to maintain control despite weak allies, Iran’s power structure is more complex, involving the military, the IRGC, and intelligence agencies. He warned that Iran’s recent statements suggest worsening tensions that could push the region toward full-scale war, affecting not only the United States but also Gulf nations.

He added that Iran possesses drones capable of striking buildings in Dubai and Bahrain and has supplied such drones to Russia for years. Although these drones can be shot down, Mulroy noted that they have previously bypassed security systems to hit targets.