How do they know the replacement isn’t worse? Religious organizations have all sorts of potential successors, and there’s nothing stopping a secular reaction to religion from occurring as well. None of these will be favourable to those bombing the shit out of Iran. Remember Ataturk.

I don't recall a time when there was so much assassination of world leaders. Sure, Putin knocks off enemies by various means, and many people have had "accidents", but not top political and military leaders. (by other countries, and Oswald was likely a Russian agent, IMO)

Better students of history, please correct me if I am off the mark.