Ali Khamenei: Iran's Supreme Leader Dies

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran, has died at the age of 86. The news was confirmed by Tehran, with Iranian state television announcing his death.

Khamenei embodied the Islamic Republic for decades, playing a central role in the ideological confrontation with the US and Israel. The Revolutionary Guards vowed to "severely punish" his "assassins," specifically mentioning Israel and the US.

Ali Khamenei was appointed Supreme Leader of Iran in June 1989, after the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. He had served as President of Iran for eight years during the war with Iraq (1980-1988).

During his leadership, Iran faced crises and protests, such as the "Green Movement" in 2009 and the "Woman, Life, Freedom" movement in 2022.

Born on April 19, 1939, Khamenei came from a poor family of imams from Azerbaijan. He studied at the centers of Shia Islam and was imprisoned for his political activism.

He survived an assassination attempt in 1981, which caused paralysis in his right arm. He had six children, with 56-year-old Mojtaba considered a possible successor.

Under his leadership, the Revolutionary Guards expanded their influence in the region. Khamenei had made warlike statements against Israel and the United States.