Khamenei

Khamenei refers to Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei, the Iranian cleric and politician who has served as the Supreme Leader of Iran since 1989. Born on 17 July 1939 in Mashhad, he rose through the Islamic seminaries and became a prominent figure in the Islamic Republic after the 1979 revolution. He served as President of Iran from 1981 to 1989, a period that included the latter years of the Iran–Iraq War, before being elected to the post of Supreme Leader following the death of Ruhollah Khomeini.

As Supreme Leader, Khamenei holds the highest authority in the Islamic Republic. The position confers final say over major state policies, national security, and the use of armed force. The Leader appoints the head of the judiciary and has significant influence over the media and education systems. He also appoints half of the members of the Guardian Council, a body that oversees elections and constitutional interpretation, and exercises substantial influence over the armed forces, including the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

Khamenei’s tenure has been characterized by a conservative and pragmatic approach to governance, emphasizing the primacy of the revolutionary framework and the authority of clerical rule. His leadership has coincided with ongoing tensions with Western countries, debates over Iran’s nuclear program, and domestic policies that restrict certain political freedoms and civil liberties. His long tenure has solidified the role of the clerical establishment in Iran’s political system and shaped the country’s domestic and foreign policy directions.