Ali Khamenei
Background
AI-generatedAli Khamenei was the Supreme Leader of Iran, the country's highest political and religious authority, from 1989 until his death amid escalating conflict with the United States and Israel in 2026.
Role
Khamenei served as Iran's Supreme Leader, the head of state and highest authority over the armed forces, judiciary, and state media, a position established under Iran's system of clerical rule (velayat-e faqih). He held ultimate decision-making power over Iran's foreign policy, nuclear program, and security apparatus, outranking the elected president.
Background
Born in the 1930s in Mashhad, Iran, Khamenei was a mid-ranking cleric and close associate of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini during the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He served as President of Iran in the 1980s before being elevated to Supreme Leader in 1989 following Khomeini's death, a role he held for over three decades, during which he oversaw Iran's nuclear program, regional proxy networks, and periodic confrontations with the United States and Israel.
Why they are in the news
Khamenei is reported to have been killed during an intensified US-Iran military confrontation in mid-2026, following rounds of American airstrikes on Iranian targets and Iranian retaliatory strikes against US and Gulf Arab interests. Iran has been holding a multi-day state funeral for him, while a successor as Supreme Leader has reportedly gone into hiding amid the ongoing conflict, and some of Khamenei's sons have appeared publicly at the funeral proceedings.
Background context generated by AI from public knowledge and recent Apprise coverage. Facts may lag current events — see the stories below for the latest.
In the news
▶ 43sUS and Iran exchange intensifying fire across Mideast, threatening ceasefire deal
The United States has launched new airstrikes against Iran, and Tehran responded by targeting Gulf countries
▶ 47sUS launches new airstrikes on Iran, with Tehran firing back at 3 Gulf Arab states
The United States launched new airstrikes against Iran early Thursday, and Tehran responded by hitting Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar in crossfire that again threatened an interim deal intended to help end the war
▶ 1:00US launches new strikes on Iran, revokes oil sales permit after 3 ships attacked in Strait of Hormuz
The U.S. military has attacked Iran after it said Tehran struck three ships in the Strait of Hormuz
▶ 1:06Khamenei's other sons appear at his funeral in Iran as new supreme leader remains in hiding
Iran’s top officials and brothers of the country’s new supreme leader have emerged into public view to attend the funeral prayers for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, signaling confidence in their safety as Iran pushes back on U.S. demands in negotiations to permanently end the war
▶ 45sIran begins dayslong funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in war
The funeral for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has started, months after his death in an airstrike on the first day of the war
▶ 59sIran prepares for dayslong funeral for late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in war
Iran is preparing for the dayslong funeral of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei