What Kind Of Supreme Leader Was Ali Khamenei? A Look At His 36-Year Rule

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was assassinated on February 28, 2026, during the Israeli–US strikes on Iran.

For nearly four decades, Khamenei stood at the centre of Iran’s political, religious and military power. His leadership shaped not only Iran’s internal system but also the balance of power across the Middle East.

Khamenei became Iran’s second Supreme Leader in 1989 after the death of Ruhollah Khomeini, the founder of the Islamic Republic.

Before that, he served as Iran’s president from 1981 to 1989 during the brutal Iran–Iraq War.

When he took over as Supreme Leader, many questioned whether he had the same religious authority as Khomeini.

But over time, Khamenei consolidated power and built a system that revolved around his office. By the 2000s, he was widely seen as the most powerful figure in Iran, with authority over the military, judiciary, state media and major political decisions.

Khamenei is often described as a hardliner.

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He strongly opposed the United States and Israel and consistently positioned Iran as a force resisting Western influence. Under his leadership, Iran supported groups across the region aligned with what Tehran called the “Axis of Resistance.”

However, he was not always impulsive. Many analysts say Khamenei preferred a long-term strategy over quick reactions.

He backed Iran’s nuclear program for civilian purposes while issuing a religious ruling, or fatwa, against nuclear weapons. At the same time, tensions with Israel and the US increased sharply in the later years of his rule, leading to open military confrontation in 2025 and 2026.

One of the biggest changes under Khamenei was the rise of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). While originally formed to protect the revolution, the IRGC grew into a powerful military, political and economic force during his tenure.

Khamenei relied heavily on the Guards for national security and regional strategy.

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Over time, they gained influence not just in defence matters but also in business, construction, oil and politics. Critics say this strengthened militarisation within Iran’s political system.

Khamenei’s rule also faced repeated waves of protests, from the 1999 student protests to the 2009 election unrest, and more recently, the 2025–2026 nationwide demonstrations.

Supporters argue he maintained stability during dangerous periods. Critics say his government responded with heavy crackdowns.

International rights groups frequently accused Iran of suppressing dissent, restricting media and arresting activists under its leadership.

Khamenei consistently framed protests as being influenced by foreign enemies, particularly the United States and Israel.

At the same time, he occasionally acknowledged economic hardships faced by ordinary Iranians, especially during periods of high inflation and sanctions.

Over 36 years, Khamenei built a tightly controlled political structure.

All major institutions, from the presidency to parliament, operated within limits set by the Supreme Leader’s office. Candidates for elections were vetted by the Guardian Council, whose members were directly or indirectly appointed by him.

This system ensured continuity and ideological alignment but also limited political competition. Reformist movements struggled to gain lasting ground.

Beyond politics, Khamenei positioned himself as a religious authority within Shia Islam.

He issued religious rulings on issues ranging from nuclear weapons to social matters. He also promoted the doctrine of “Velayat-e Faqih,” which places ultimate political authority in the hands of a senior Islamic jurist.

His speeches often emphasised independence, resistance to foreign pressure, Islamic unity and support for Palestine. He rarely travelled abroad but maintained a strong symbolic influence through public addresses and official messages.

Perhaps the most defining domestic challenge to Khamenei’s authority came from women and girls demanding greater freedom.

In September 2022, the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in the custody of Iran’s morality police ignited nationwide protests, known as the “Woman, Life, Freedom” movement, driven largely by women and young people angered at strict dress laws and broader restrictions on personal freedoms.

Amini was arrested for allegedly violating Iran’s mandatory hijab regulations, which require women to cover their hair and observe strict dress codes in public.

Her death sparked months of unrest that continued sporadically through 2025 and into 2026, with demonstrators calling not only for women’s rights but also for political reform and greater freedoms across Iranian society.

Under Khamenei’s leadership, Iran’s government intensified its enforcement of compulsory hijab laws.

Authorities deployed morality police units and expanded electronic surveillance, including apps and cameras, to monitor compliance.

According to a UN report, tens of thousands of women were arrested in recent years for alleged dress code violations, and state-supported informants have been encouraged to report offenders.

Despite these efforts, many Iranian women responded with defiance.

Videos circulated online showing women walking in public without headscarves, participating in athletic events without hijab, and joining protests that rejected the regime’s interpretation of women’s roles and freedoms.

These acts of resistance occurred even amid legal changes that imposed harsh penalties for dress code violations, including fines, jail terms and public punishments.

Some laws go further, threatening decades-long imprisonment for “promoting indecency,” raising international concerns about basic civil liberties.

Khamenei often defended Iran’s approach to women’s issues in public speeches.

He framed Western criticism of Iran’s women’s rights record as outside interference and argued that Iran’s system protected women’s dignity within an Islamic framework.

He described women as important in society and family life, but also emphasised traditional roles and modesty as core cultural values.

Critics argue that these statements gloss over the very real legal and social restrictions that many Iranian women face, including limitations on travel, employment and personal choice, and continued enforcement of compulsory dress codes with the threat of punishment.

The protests following Amini’s death were met with forceful state responses.

Security forces, including paramilitary units, used mass arrests, lethal force and internet blackouts to limit protests. Human rights organisations documented hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries, and widespread detentions, including those of women activists.

The protests also highlighted broader discontent with economic and political conditions, but the spark remained the demand for personal freedom and the right of women to control their own lives and bodies.

To his supporters, Khamenei was a guardian of the Islamic Revolution who defended Iran’s sovereignty against external threats. They credit him with keeping the country stable despite decades of sanctions, wars and political pressure.

To his critics, he was an authoritarian ruler who concentrated power, limited freedoms and oversaw harsh crackdowns on dissent.

With his death, Iran now faces one of the most important transitions since 1989. The Assembly of Experts will choose the next Supreme Leader, a decision that could redefine the country’s direction.