Gardening, poetry and Quran study—these pursuits hardly seem connected. Yet public discourse often repeats a claim: one man unites them all. The assertion goes further, suggesting he practices these activities daily, even as he neither governs the country nor insults it. The United States, Israel, and their allies are frequently cited in this narrative.
That man is Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Iranian religious leader who has steered the country for more than three decades. Despite his long tenure, he remains one of the Middle East’s most enigmatic figures. Khamenei wields immense influence, and his pronouncements shape policy inside Iran and ripple across the region. Groups such as Hamas and Islamic Jihad in Palestine, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Popular Mobilization Forces in Syria and Iraq, and the Houthis in Yemen are often described as operating under Iran’s guidance within the framework of the Islamic Republic.
When Khamenei rose to power in 1989, observers noted a calm demeanor that some interpreted as moderation. That perception contributed to perceptions of him as a stabilizing figure. Yet many experts now regard him as the central, if controversial, force behind Iran’s domestic and regional strategy, occupying a pivotal position within Tehran’s power structure and political decision-making.
Born in 1939 into a devout family in Mashhad, a city renowned for its religious scholarship, Khamenei began studying theology at a young age. He pursued clerical work while engaging with political currents opposing the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. His early activism led to multiple imprisonments as the revolutionary movement gained momentum.
In 1979, the revolution succeeded, and Iran transformed from a secular monarchy into an Islamic republic governed by clerical leadership. The state’s governance framework pivoted from secular governance to a system grounded in religious authority and theocratic principles, with clerics at the helm.
Survivor
In 1981, during a public gathering, Khamenei sustained a serious injury, losing his right arm in an attack. Yet the event did not derail his rise. He later described a renewed sense of purpose, recalling a moment when he felt his survival was intertwined with a divine plan. The ordeal did not halt his ascent; instead, it accelerated his role within the new political order.
That same year, he was elected to the presidency, a position that would serve as a stepping-stone for his longer-term ambitions within Iran’s power hierarchy. He would become a central figure in the post-revolutionary landscape, widely recognized as a senior leader after the passing of Ruhollah Khomeini.
Commentators have noted that Khamenei embodies a blend of authoritarian and participatory tendencies. As Karim Sadjadpour, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, has observed, no single decision in Iran tends to be made without aligning with the supreme authority and broader consensus within the ruling establishment. Khamenei’s leadership has consistently prioritized the survival and cohesion of the Islamic Republic, balancing religious authority with pragmatic governance aimed at preserving the system as a whole.
Discussions in the Street
In recent years, Iran has seen waves of protests and mass demonstrations that have tested the legitimacy of the Islamic Republic. The 2022 outpouring following the death of Mahsa Amini drew unprecedented scrutiny of state policies surrounding dress codes and civil freedoms. Demonstrators united under slogans advocating dignity, life, and freedom, and some voices called for a fundamental rethinking of the regime’s authority. The authorities’ response included suppression, violence, and arrests, illustrating the fragility and resilience of Iran’s political order.
While rumors circulate about Khamenei’s health, the regime has remained steadfast in presenting continuity and stability. The succession question has risen to the foreground as observers speculate about who might succeed the current leader. Raisi, the president, has been cited by some as a potential figure who could inherit both the presidency and significant spiritual influence, given the close alignment with the ruling establishment. The discussion remains a topic of intense speculation as Iran’s political landscape evolves.