Khamenei’s journey: Lifelong struggle and leadership of Iran’s Islamic Republic

TEHRAN, Iran (MNTV) — Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran and a towering figure in contemporary Shia Islam, has died at the age of 86 as a result of U.S.-Israeli bombardment on his home and office, Iranian state media confirmed on Saturday.

He was killed along with his son, daughter-in-law, and grandchild.

His death follows a period of heightened regional tensions and military escalation. Authorities announced a 40-day national mourning period, with memorial ceremonies planned across the country.

Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB and the official news agency IRNA described Khamenei as a “leader of resistance” whose decades at the helm shaped the Islamic Republic’s political doctrine, regional posture, and religious authority.

Messages of condolence were issued by senior clerics, political leaders and allied movements across the Middle East.

Early life and political struggle

Born in 1939 in the northeastern city of Mashhad, a major center of Shia scholarship, Khamenei was raised in a religious household and pursued advanced seminary studies in Mashhad and later in Qom.

Influenced by prominent scholars, including Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, he became active in opposition circles during the reign of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.

Iranian historical accounts and archival reporting note that he was arrested multiple times in the 1960s and 1970s for his political sermons and activism against the monarchy.

Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, which overthrew the Shah and established a theocratic republic, Khamenei quickly emerged as a key figure in the new order.

He held several senior posts, including deputy defense minister and Tehran’s Friday prayer leader, before being elected president in 1981. His presidency coincided with the Iran-Iraq War, a period marked by national mobilization and reconstruction.

In 1989, after the death of Ayatollah Khomeini, the Assembly of Experts appointed Khamenei as Supreme Leader, the highest political and religious authority under Iran’s constitution.

Though not initially considered among the most senior-ranking clerics, he consolidated his position over time, expanding the office’s institutional influence over the armed forces, judiciary, and state broadcasting.

During his more than three decades in power, Khamenei positioned Iran as a staunch advocate of strategic independence, frequently criticizing Western intervention in the Middle East and Iran.

His speeches, widely broadcast by Iranian media, emphasized resistance to what he termed global arrogance and support for movements opposing Israeli occupation and foreign military presence in the region.

Under his leadership, Iran advanced its nuclear program, which Tehran has consistently described as peaceful and within its sovereign rights under international law.

The program became the subject of prolonged negotiations with world powers, culminating in the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

Though the agreement later faced setbacks, Iranian officials often cited Khamenei’s guidance as central to maintaining a negotiating framework while safeguarding national interests.

Supporter of the oppressed people of Palestine

Beyond politics, Khamenei was regarded by many Shia Muslims globally as a marja’ (source of emulation) and religious authority.

Seminaries in Qom and Najaf referenced his jurisprudential writings, and Shia communities across the Middle East, South Asia and Africa followed his religious edicts.

Iranian outlets frequently portrayed him as a unifying figure for Shia populations and a defender of oppressed communities.

Ayatollah Khamenei consistently framed support for the Palestinian cause as a central pillar of Islamic solidarity and Iranian foreign policy, urging Muslim nations to back Palestinians financially and militarily against Israel’s occupation.

He repeatedly described supporting resistance movements — including Hamas and other armed groups — as a moral and religious duty for the Muslim world, pledging that Iran would stand with the “sincere Palestinians” and continue assistance “as much as it can.”

Persian-language statements from his office underline that backing Palestine is considered obligatory for governments and peoples, while official rhetoric emphasizes that liberation of Palestinian lands aligns with broader struggles against foreign domination.

Legacy at home

Domestically, his tenure saw periods of economic strain, protests and political contestation. Iranian authorities maintained that preserving stability and independence required firm governance, while critics argued for broader reforms. Throughout, Khamenei remained the ultimate arbiter of state direction.

Tributes from regional allies described him as a symbol of steadfastness and ideological continuity. Funeral arrangements are expected to draw large crowds, reflecting the profound imprint he left on Iran’s political and religious landscape.

With his passing, Iran enters a pivotal phase as constitutional mechanisms move to appoint a successor. Analysts say the transition will be closely watched both within the country and abroad, given the central role the Supreme Leader plays in shaping Iran’s domestic and foreign policy.

For supporters, Ayatollah Khamenei’s life embodied the revolutionary ideals of 1979 — faith-based governance, sovereignty and resistance. His legacy will remain deeply intertwined with the evolution of the Islamic Republic and the broader trajectory of Shia political thought in the modern era.