Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader for 37 Years, Dies at 86
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader for 37 Years, Dies at 86
- •Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader for nearly 37 years, died on February 28, 2026, at the age of 86, marking the end of an era.
- •Born in Mashhad in 1939, Khamenei rose to prominence during the 1979 Islamic Revolution, serving as President from 1981-1989 before becoming Supreme Leader.
- •As Supreme Leader, he held ultimate authority over all state institutions, including the military, judiciary, and foreign policy, centralizing power through loyalists.
- •His tenure saw Iran's nuclear program development, international sanctions, and a tough stance against the West and Israel, expanding IRGC's regional influence.
- •Khamenei's death leaves Iran facing an uncertain political future, with questions arising about the next Supreme Leader and the country's direction.
