Iranian Leader's Tumultuous Reign Ends
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Dies Amid U.S.-Israeli Conflict, Burial Planned in UAE
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran for more than three decades, has died and will be buried following a days-long funeral, according to Newsday. He was killed at the start of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran, which toppled one of the most powerful figures in the Middle East.
Khamenei ruled Iran with an iron grip since 1989, according to KTVB. He turned the country into a regional powerhouse while clashing repeatedly with Israel and the United States. His death marks the end of an era for the Islamic Republic.
How Khamenei Rose to Lead Iran
Khamenei took power after the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989, according to SFGate. Khomeini had led the 1979 revolution that overthrew the shah and put Shiite Muslim clerics in charge. Khamenei stepped into that role and never let go.
Over 35 years, he reshaped Iran from the top down, according to KTVB. He built up military alliances, supported armed groups across the region, and pushed Iran's nuclear program forward. Few leaders in the world held power as long or as tightly.
Nuclear Standoff and Defiance of the West
Khamenei refused to give up Iran's nuclear program despite heavy international pressure. He issued a religious ruling saying nuclear weapons are un-Islamic. But he insisted Iran had every right to develop peaceful nuclear energy, according to WRAL.
That stance put Iran on a collision course with the United States and its allies for years. Sanctions piled up. Talks broke down repeatedly. Still, Khamenei did not back down, according to Dayton Daily News.
Protests Crushed, Dissent Silenced at Home
Inside Iran, Khamenei faced wave after wave of public unrest. During one major crackdown, more than 500 people were killed and tens of thousands were arrested, according to Winnipeg Free Press. Security forces moved fast and hard to put down protests.
Despite the violence, protest movements kept rising. Young Iranians, women, and workers all pushed back against the government at different times. Each time, the state crushed them. Khamenei never offered real political reform.
Death During U.S.-Israeli War Ends His Reign
Khamenei was killed at the start of the U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, according to Newsday. His death came suddenly, cutting short a reign that had defined the country for a generation. A days-long funeral is now being planned.
His passing leaves Iran without its most powerful figure at one of its most dangerous moments. Who takes over — and how — will shape not just Iran, but the wider Middle East, according to WRAL.
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