Khamenei: The figure who has held the highest power in Iran for over three decades

Ali Khamenei is not merely Iran’s spiritual leader but also holds all political and military power. Since taking over as Supreme Leader in 1989, he has maintained absolute control, guiding all domestic and foreign policy decisions of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Khamenei is the successor to Khomeini’s hardline political stance. Photo: EPA.

Formative years from a religious family background

Born in 1939 in Mashhad, Ali Khamenei grew up in a family with a deep religious foundation but faced economic hardships. His father—a respected ascetic cleric—taught his children to live simply and with a strong spiritual focus. The family lived in a cramped 65-square-meter house, where he studied and cultivated himself from childhood.

From a young age, Khamenei attended traditional religious schools in Mashhad. He quickly excelled in subjects such as logic, philosophy, and Islamic law, completing his secondary education in five years. A pivotal moment in Khamenei’s educational path occurred when he studied in Najaf, Iraq—the most renowned Shia theological center in the Islamic world. There, he had the opportunity to interact with leading clerics like Ayatollah Hakim and Ayatollah Shahrudi but ultimately decided to return to Iran to follow his father’s wishes.

Between 1958 and 1964, Khamenei was directly guided by prominent grand clerics, including Ruhollah Khomeini—who would later become the first leader of the Islamic Republic. This period shaped his entire political and religious ideology.

Becoming Khomeini’s right-hand man in the revolutionary movement

Starting in 1962, in Qom, Khamenei entered political activity by joining the opposition movement led by Ayatollah Khomeini, aimed at opposing the monarchy of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. The relationship between Khamenei and Khomeini developed into unwavering loyalty—he regarded all of Khomeini’s initiatives as rooted in the Islamic revolutionary foundation.

For 17 years, from 1962 to 1979, Khamenei was repeatedly persecuted, tortured, and imprisoned for his political activities. However, he never gave up or wavered. This steadfastness later became a mark of his reliability within the new system.

Rapid advancement after the 1979 revolution

When the monarchy was overthrown and the Islamic Republic of Iran was established, Khomeini quickly appointed Khamenei to key positions. He was assigned as Deputy Minister of Defense and participated in building the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—a powerful tool that Khamenei would later use to control both politics and military forces.

In 1981, a bombing at Tehran’s church seriously wounded Khamenei, rendering his right arm permanently disabled. Two months later, President Mohammad-Ali Rajai was mysteriously assassinated, and Khamenei was elected to succeed him. Although the presidency at that time was largely symbolic, Khamenei began to demonstrate his influence by clashing with Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi—whom he believed was rushing reforms too quickly.

The opportunity to inherit power when the designated successor was sidelined

In the 1980s, Khomeini chose Ayatollah Hussein-Ali Montazeri as his successor. Montazeri was called “the sweet fruit of the revolution” by Khomeini and was entrusted with significant responsibilities. However, in 1986, Montazeri began publicly criticizing the foundations of the Islamic Republic, advocating for a more open and moderate society—completely at odds with Khomeini’s strict ideology.

This conflict escalated until Khomeini’s death in March 1989. Before passing away, Khomeini stripped Montazeri of his succession rights and revoked his title of (Grand Ayatollah). Portraits of Montazeri alongside Khomeini were also removed—clearly signaling that he had been “erased” from the country’s political future.

When Khomeini died in June 1989, the Assembly of Experts—comprising Islamic clerics—elected Khamenei as Supreme Leader. Although Khamenei had not yet achieved the highest religious certification (marja-e taqlid), Iran’s constitution was amended to require only “Islamic knowledge” for the Supreme Leader—an explicit clause designed for him. Khamenei was swiftly promoted from Hojjat al-Islam to Ayatollah (second only to Grand Ayatollah), a move with strong symbolic significance affirming his supreme authority.

Khamenei vs. Presidents: the power struggle

Khamenei served as President of Iran from 1981-1989. Photo: Getty Images.

From his position as Supreme Leader, Khamenei not only approved decisions but also actively controlled all actions of subsequent Presidents. These conflicts clearly reflect Iran’s actual power structure—where the Supreme Leader always holds the key power centers.

Mohammad Khatami (1997–2005): This reformist president launched initiatives to open up and rapprochement with the West. However, Khamenei systematically obstructed Khatami’s modernization efforts, maintaining a hardline stance.

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (2005–2013): Initially considered a close ally of Khamenei, Ahmadinejad quickly sought to expand his personal power, leading to deep conflicts. His controversial re-election in 2009 sparked the largest protests since the 1979 revolution. Khamenei ordered a harsh crackdown, resulting in dozens of deaths and thousands of arrests.

Hassan Rouhani (2013–2021): Rouhani achieved the historic nuclear deal in 2015 with Khamenei’s approval. However, when the US under Donald Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions, Iran’s economy plunged into crisis. Khamenei criticized Rouhani for trusting US goodwill and declared vehemently: “I warned from day one—never trust the US.”

Khamenei’s hardline foreign policy

Khamenei is known for his uncompromising stance against Western powers. From his time as President, he laid the groundwork for a confrontational policy, especially committed to eliminating “liberalism and US puppets.”

The 2020 event—when a US drone strike killed General Qasem Soleimani—elicited a strong response from Khamenei. He promised a “brutal” revenge and described the missile retaliation as “a slap in the face of the US,” but emphasized: “More importantly, we must end US military presence in the region.”

Regarding Israel, Khamenei does not hide his hardline stance. He has previously declared that the country is “a cancerous tumor that must be removed from the region”—a statement reflecting his irreconcilable views.

The future of power after Khamenei

The successor to Khamenei will be chosen by the Assembly of Experts. Photo: AFP.

Khamenei is now over 86 years old and has experienced multiple health issues. The question of who will succeed as Supreme Leader has become a top concern both inside and outside Iran—especially as the US and Israel increase pressure.

According to the constitution, the successor will be selected by the Assembly of Experts. This body consists of 88 highly qualified Islamic clerics elected directly by the Iranian people every 8 years. However, to run for office, candidates must be approved by the (Guardian Council)—an institution controlled by the Supreme Leader. This mechanism ensures that only those loyal to the system are considered.

In reality, although the Assembly of Experts is tasked with overseeing the Supreme Leader, most members are entirely loyal to the current leader, making their oversight largely symbolic. The power vacuum left by Khamenei will be significant, and who can fill that gap remains a key unknown amid increasing global geopolitical challenges.

$BTC $ETH $XRP BTCUSDT Perpetual 87,122.8 -2.65% XRPUSDT Perpetual 1.93 -2.15% ETHUSDT Perpetual 2,946.76 -6.14%