Ayatollah Ali Khamenei fundamentally reshaped Iran over his more than 30 years as the supreme leader. He transformed the nation into a regional force, frequently clashing with both Israel and the United States. His extensive funeral began on Saturday, months after his death at the outset of a U.S.-Israeli conflict in Iran.
Rise to Power
Following Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini’s passing in 1989, Khamenei took over leadership. Khomeini had led the revolt that ousted the shah and set up a government dominated by Shiite Muslim clerics. Khamenei, with less religious prestige, was tasked with transforming that revolutionary ideal into a structured state.
Influence in the Region
Khamenei backed numerous armed groups in the Middle East, advanced Iran’s nuclear initiatives, and addressed various protest movements through suppression. His antagonism with the U.S. and Israel garnered domestic backing but eventually led to his downfall. He bolstered Iran’s military strength, notably using proxies.
Post the 1980s Iran-Iraq War, Khamenei expanded the Revolutionary Guard’s role, making it the main force supporting his leadership. The Guard evolved into an elite military and economic powerhouse in Iran.
Support for Proxies
Under his command, Iran pivoted from direct military actions to proxy warfare, crafting the “Axis of Resistance.” This included supporting Hezbollah in Lebanon, which expelled Israel from southern Lebanon in 2000 and clashed recurrently with Israeli forces.
Iran provided backing to Yemen’s Houthi rebels, who overtook Yemen’s capital in 2014 and maintained control in a protracted conflict. The Palestinian group Hamas, fighting Israel in Gaza, also received Iranian support. Additionally, Iran sponsored militias that resisted U.S. troops in Iraq. However, the Middle Eastern conflicts following Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attack on Israel unravelled this alliance, weakening Hamas and Hezbollah.
Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions
For years, Khamenei disregarded U.N. sanctions to advance Iran’s nuclear program, which the U.S. and allies claimed masked a covert weapons project until 2003. Khamenei publicly declared that nuclear arms were un-Islamic but insisted on Iran’s right to a peaceful nuclear program.
The 2015 nuclear agreement saw Iran drastically limit its uranium stock and enrichment in exchange for lifted sanctions. Yet, after U.S. President Donald Trump exited the deal in 2018, Iran expanded its uranium reserves close to weapons-grade. This development has worried Israel and U.S. officials, fearing nuclear weapon ambitions.
The U.S.-Israeli bombings in 2025 and the ongoing war targeted Iran’s nuclear aspirations.
Protests and Suppression
Khamenei’s tenure saw significant protests fueled by political repression and economic failures. In 2009, claims of election fraud led to protests against President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s re-election, resulting in deaths and arrests.
Economic grievances led to unrest in 2017, and a 2019 government-imposed gas price hike spurred widespread demonstrations. This resulted in over 300 fatalities, as reported by activists.
Protests reignited in 2022 after Mahsa Amini’s death, detained for improper hijab wearing, saw over 500 casualties and mass arrests. By late 2025, economic grievances culminated in massive protests against the Islamic Republic. Critics say a fierce crackdown resulted in at least 7,000 deaths, stunning the populace.
Uncertain Future
Khamenei’s death raises uncertainty about Iran’s path forward. His successor, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, sustained injuries in the strike that killed his father and hasn’t appeared publicly.
As Trump initiated the current war, he urged Iranians to overthrow their government. However, no evident uprising has emerged, while hard-liners rally in Tehran. The Revolutionary Guard’s evident readiness to wield power may significantly influence Iran’s direction post-Khamenei’s burial.
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