The Kabul Tribune (KT) — Ali Khamenei, who had served as Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, was considered the most powerful and influential figure in the political structure of the Islamic Republic. He was regarded as the principal architect of the system’s ideology, security policies, and regional influence.
Khamenei was born in 1939 in Mashhad. After the 1979
revolution led by Ruhollah Khomeini, he quickly rose through the upper ranks of
the new system. He served as president from 1981 to 1989, and following
Khomeini’s death, was appointed Supreme Leader.
At the outset, his appointment was questioned in terms of
religious rank, but he gradually consolidated his authority and turned the
Office of the Supreme Leader into the central axis of the political system.
Under his leadership, the role of the Islamic Revolutionary
Guard Corps (IRGC) expanded significantly in politics, the economy, and
regional operations. The IRGC became not only a military institution but also a
powerful economic and intelligence force, and was regarded as the executor of
the Supreme Leader’s strategic policies.
The heads of the judiciary, state media, and key security
bodies were appointed by the Supreme Leader, further strengthening the
concentration of power.
Khamenei oriented Iran’s foreign policy around the axis of
“resistance.” During his tenure, Iran supported allied groups in Iraq, Syria,
Lebanon, and Yemen. The dispute over the nuclear program led to international
sanctions, placing the economy under severe pressure.
He consistently emphasized that Iran would not surrender to Western
pressure and described the nuclear program as a “national right.”
Domestically, Iran witnessed several waves of large-scale
protests — particularly in 2009 and 2022. The harsh response by security forces
drew international criticism, while officials described the measures as
necessary to safeguard national security.
Recently, reports and rumors of Khamenei’s killing sparked
widespread debate in Iran and across the region’s political sphere. Although
official confirmation or details regarding such events are often limited, the
potential death of a Supreme Leader would bring profound changes to Iran’s
political structure.
According to Iran’s constitution, after the death of the
Supreme Leader, the authority to appoint a successor rests with the Assembly of
Experts. This would mark a sensitive phase for the system, as a new leader
would assume power under the shadow of domestic economic challenges and
international pressure.
It is expected that the IRGC would play a significant role
in the transition process to maintain stability and prevent any potential
unrest.
Iran is engaged on multiple fronts in the Middle East. The
sudden absence of the Supreme Leader would affect Tehran’s regional allies’
strategies and the balance of power.
The transition period could intensify political competition
between reformist and conservative factions. Amid economic pressures and social
restrictions, any political vacuum could increase the risk of protests.
Ali Khamenei was the longest-serving and most influential
leader of contemporary Iran. His potential killing or death would reshape
political equations not only inside Iran but across the region. The future of
the system, the succession process, and the balance of power will be decisive
for Iran’s stability and international position.
Why Was He Targeted by the United States and Israel?
The killing of Ali Khamenei is viewed as the result of
decades of strategic confrontation. According to analysts, he was the main
architect of Iran’s policies that led to deep security confrontation with
Washington and Tel Aviv.
First, Iran’s nuclear program has long been considered a red
line for the United States and Israel. Israel repeatedly warned that Tehran
must not be allowed to obtain nuclear weapons, while the United States pursued
a policy of sanctions and pressure.
Second, Khamenei led the “Axis of Resistance” strategy — a
network that included allied groups across the region and was viewed by Israel
as a direct security threat. This policy placed Iran in indirect confrontation
on multiple fronts.
Third, decades of hostility between Iran and the United
States — since 1979 — never normalized. Sanctions on Iran, actions against the
IRGC, and cyber and intelligence confrontations further deepened the crisis.
Analysts say that if the operation was a deliberate and
direct targeted strike, its aim would have been to weaken the center of Iran’s
strategic decision-making and curb its regional influence.
However, it is also clear that such an action would carry
deep and long-term consequences for the region’s security balance, as Khamenei
was not only a political leader but also the central figure of the Islamic
Republic’s legitimacy and ideology.
