US-Israel-Iran conflict23 min ago
Who was Ayatollah Ali Khamenei? Iran’s supreme leader killed in US-Israel strike after 36 years in power
Written By Ankit Kumar
Published: | Updated:
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader for 36 years, has reportedly been killed in a joint US-Israel strike, marking a major escalation in the Middle East conflict. The 86-year-old cleric shaped Iran’s politics and foreign policy for decades as the country’s most powerful leader.
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Who was Ayatollah Ali Khamenei? Iran's Supreme Leader killed in US-Israel strike. Image: ANI
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei - the most powerful figure in the Islamic Republic for more than three decades - has reportedly been killed in a joint US-Israel strike, marking a dramatic escalation in the deepening conflict across the Middle East. The 86-year-old cleric, who led Iran since 1989 and shaped its domestic politics and foreign policy for 36 years, was declared dead by US President Donald Trump, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier said there were “many signs” he was no longer alive. If confirmed, Khamenei’s death would represent one of the most consequential geopolitical events in the region in decades and could reshape Iran’s political future as well as regional stability.
Who was Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?
Ali Khamenei was born on April 19, 1939, in Mashhad, Iran.. He studied Islamic theology in Mashhad and later in Qom, where he became a supporter of Ruhollah Khomeini, the driving force behind Iran’s 1979 revolution.
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He took part in protests and opposition activities against Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and was arrested several times. After the monarchy fell and the Islamic Republic was established, he steadily moved up in the new political system.
His early political career included senior roles in the defence establishment and close links with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which later became one of the main pillars of his power.
President before becoming supreme leader
Khamenei became President of Iran in 1981 during the Iran-Iraq War and remained in office until 1989. The same year he took office, he survived an assassination attempt that left his right arm partially paralysed.
Although the presidency carried limited authority compared with the supreme leadership, Khamenei gained significant political influence during the war years and developed strong ties with the security establishment.
After Ruhollah Khomeini died in 1989, Iran’s Assembly of Experts chose Ali Khamenei as Supreme Leader. There was debate at the time about whether he had the senior religious rank required for the post, but a constitutional amendment cleared the way for his appointment.
36 years as Iran’s most powerful leader
From 1989 to 2026, Ali Khamenei was Iran’s ultimate decision-maker. He controlled the armed forces, judiciary, intelligence services and state media, and had the final word on foreign and security policy.
Under Iran’s system, the Supreme Leader sits above elected offices. Presidents such as Mohammad Khatami, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hassan Rouhani ran the government, but major calls rested with him.
He supported the disputed 2009 vote that kept Ahmadinejad in power, sparking the Green Movement protests. The unrest was crushed.
Regional influence and nuclear tensions
Iran strengthened ties with allied groups and governments in Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Yemen, including support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during the civil war. Relations with Israel remained openly hostile throughout his tenure.
The Iranian nuclear programme became a defining issue of his leadership. In 2015, Iran reached a nuclear agreement with world powers including the United States. However, the United States withdrew from the deal in 2018 during Donald Trump’s presidency, reimposing sanctions and sharply increasing tensions.
Under heavy sanctions, Ali Khamenei pushed what he called a “resistance economy” - a plan to reduce Iran’s reliance on Western markets and focus on self-sufficiency.
Protests and economic strain
Critics say political space narrowed sharply under Ali Khamenei. Supporters argue he was standing firm against Western pressure and defending Iran’s sovereignty. He leaned heavily on powerful institutions such as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and clerical oversight bodies to maintain control.
Death in US–Israel strike
Reports of his death surfaced after large-scale US–Israel strikes targeted key Iranian facilities and leadership compounds, sharply raising tensions in the region.
Trump announced the killing in a message posted early Sunday, describing Khamenei as responsible for attacks on Americans and allies. Israeli officials said intelligence indicated the Supreme Leader had been killed but stopped short of immediate confirmation.
Iranian state media later reported that Khamenei had died in the attacks.
The killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader is expected to intensify tensions across the Middle East and could trigger further military escalation involving Iran and its regional allies.
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