FLASH NEWS
What you need to know about Iran's mysterious leader, Ali Khamenei
2025-06-18 11:55:50 / BOTA
You may have seen the news this week that Israel had planned to assassinate Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, before the US intervened.
Donald Trump also warned on social media that he knows "exactly where the so-called 'Supreme Leader' is hiding."
But who is Khamenei? And why would Israel strike him?
Ali Khamenei is the head of state of Iran and has been in the role for more than three decades. His title places him above President Masoud Pezeshkian, making him the country's most powerful religious and political leader.
In addition to broad powers in government, Khamenei also heads the strict religious regime that took control of Iran after the 1979 Islamic revolution.
At that time, a popular uprising overthrew the Iranian monarchy led by Shah Reza Pahlavi and established a religious republic in its place.
Since then there have been only two supreme leaders, both elected by Iran's Assembly of Experts. The title "Ayatollah" refers to a senior cleric in Shia Islam.
As supreme leader, Khamenei is the commander-in-chief of the country's military, which may partly explain why Israel sees him as a target.
Since Iran is an authoritarian regime, the Iranian people have virtually no say in choosing their leader.
Dissent, including criticism of Khamenei on social media, can lead to imprisonment.
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