Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Highest Authority, Dead At 86
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Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s spiritual leader and highest authority who led the country for almost four decades, was killed during US and Israeli air strikes on February at the age of 86.
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Iran Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Highest Authority, Dead At 86 By Kian Sharifi and Golnaz Esfandiari March 01, 2026 03:25 CET Listen 8 min This audio is automated Learn more Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Highest Authority, Dead At 86 Share Share Print Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s spiritual leader and highest authority who led the country for almost four decades, was killed during US and Israeli air strikes on February at the age of 86. Praised by his supporters as a wise leader and denounced by his critics as a dictator, Khamenei will be remembered as a monumental figure of the Islamic Revolution who rode a reputation for piety and fierce devotion to the cause to his ascendancy as supreme leader. Embed share Celebrations In Iran After Trump Says Ayatollah Killed In Strikes by RFE/RL Embed share The code has been copied to your clipboard. width px height px The URL has been copied to your clipboard No media source currently available 0:00 0:01:03 0:00 Khamenei’s use of force against his own people, jailing of opposition figures within the establishment itself, and fiery resistance to outside influence -- particularly that of the United States and Israel -- forged his legacy as a harsh and uncompromising authoritarian who led his country into international isolation. “History will show Khamenei’s reign was deeply traumatic for the Iranian people who watched their country isolated and weakened to the point where a majority came to see emigration as their only hope,” said Alex Vatanka, director of the Iran Program at the Middle East Institute in Washington. The latter years of Khamenei’s rule were marred by frequent nationwide antiestablishment protests and deadly state crackdowns that killed thousands of demonstrators. SEE ALSO: Iran's 40-Day Mourning Ceremonies Spark Renewed Protests The protests over the high cost of living in 2017, gasoline prices in 2019, water shortages in 2021, and the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who allegedly violated the hij...
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