Iranian state television reported the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, in what would represent one of the most significant developments in the history of the Islamic Republic since its establishment in 1979.
Who is Ali Khamenei?
Ali Khamenei served as Iran’s second Supreme Leader following the Iranian Revolution. He assumed the position in 1989 after the death of the Islamic Republic’s founder, Ruhollah Khomeini. For more than three decades, he remained the central figure in Iran’s political system, with entire generations of Iranians knowing no other supreme leadership.
During his tenure, Khamenei built a complex network of competing power centers within the state, balancing influence among the religious establishment, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, security institutions, and various political factions.
He held extensive constitutional powers, including veto authority over major state policies, approval of election outcomes, and decisive influence over the selection of candidates for senior political positions.
The Supreme Leader also oversaw the appointment of top military commanders, the head of the judiciary, and members of the Guardian Council, while playing a defining role in shaping Iran’s strategic domestic and regional policies.
As commander-in-chief of the armed forces — including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — Khamenei exercised near-absolute authority within Iran’s governing structure, making him the ultimate decision-maker on critical national matters.
