Iran: Time Magazine accused of supporting regime change over Khamanei cover
Time magazine's latest cover featuring Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has sparked criticism online, with users accusing the publication of drumming up support for the idea of regime change in Iran following Israel's surprise attack on the country last week.
The cover, published on X on Thursday, features a half-torn poster of Khamenei with the headline: "The New Middle East" featured prominently on the page.
"Western press is setting the stage for the aggression against Iran," said one user. "What they call 'The New Middle East' is fragmented, failed states whose resources and people they think they are entitled to exploit."
Another user said: "It hasn't even been a week and there's already a new Middle East?! How? Am I missing a ceasefire, a regime collapse, or a revolution?"
Many social media users also drew parallels between Time's Khamanei image and the March 2003 issue of the magazine, which was published just weeks before the US invasion of Iraq.
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The cover features a man painting over a poster of Saddam Hussein, the country's leader who was later captured by US forces after the invasion which plunged the country into years of chaos and violence.
A clear propaganda piece:
1. Tearing out the page as though Iran's time has come (it hasn't)
2. Drumming up 'Iran's threat' (unfounded)
3. Painting Israhell as the hero in 'Israel's Gamble' (LIE)
4. Justifying American intervention so it's justified (it's not)
FOR SHAME! — Claudiopoi (@claudiopoy) June 19, 2025
In addition to the title "Life after Saddam Hussein", the March 2003 issue also promoted an article about "[President George W] Bush's high-risk plan to occupy Iraq and remake the Middle East".
"We're not exaggerating when we say it's the same playbook," one user wrote on X.
TIME's new cover, same as the old cover. pic.twitter.com/nPXNfT6TXM — Network Radio (@Anarcho1776) June 19, 2025
Israel launched its attacks last week claiming that Iran was on the verge of building nuclear weapons.
But the Islamic Republic has repeatedly denied seeking nuclear weapons, a position supported by the most recent assessments from the UN nuclear watchdog, the IAEA, and the US intelligence community.
The attacks have since escalated into an exchange of rockets between Tel Aviv and Tehran.
Israel's attacks have killed several top military generals and nuclear scientists and targeted Iranian nuclear facilities, but it has also struck residential buildings, hospitals, civilian infrastructure and the Iranian state television headquarters, killing hundreds of civilians in what is being viewed by many as an operation geared towards regime change.
On Thursday, Israel's defence minister said Khamenei "can no longer be allowed to exist".
Israel's defence minister - following an Iranian missile that hit the Soroka medical complex - said that Khamenei "can no longer be allowed to exist", while Prime Minister Netanyahu said Iran would "pay the full price" for its attack.
In an interview with US broadcaster ABC on Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was asked about reports that US President Donald Trump vetoed an Israeli plan to assassinate Khamenei.
"It's not going to escalate the conflict, it's going to end the conflict," Netanyahu replied, not denying Trump's rejection nor such Israeli plans. Israel, he added, is "doing what we need to do".
Trump himself remains elusive about his plans. While he has approved plans to attack Iran, he has reportedly made no final decision.
Recent reports suggest that Trump is waiting to see if he can get Iran to renounce its nuclear programme by threatening to join Israel's attacks.
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