Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who led Iran for more than 30 years as its supreme leader, will be buried on Saturday. His death comes months after he was killed at the start of the U.S.-Israeli war in Iran.

Khamenei assumed leadership in 1989 following the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. During his tenure, Khamenei transformed Iran into a regional power, increasing its confrontation with Israel and the United States. He solidified clerical rule, expanded Iran's influence through proxy groups, and oversaw the country's nuclear program.

Building a Regional Powerhouse

After the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, Khamenei elevated the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, turning it into a powerful force with significant economic and military sway. This strategic shift supported the development of an "Axis of Resistance," comprising groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthi rebels in Yemen, and Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Iranian-backed militias also engaged U.S. forces in Iraq.

The "Axis of Resistance" faced significant challenges following Hamas's Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which left Hamas and Hezbollah weakened.

Nuclear Program and Sanctions

Khamenei's leadership was also defined by Iran's nuclear program. Despite issuing a religious ruling against nuclear weapons, Iran continued to pursue its nuclear activities. The U.S. and its allies have expressed concerns that Iran's program could be used to develop nuclear weapons, a stance reinforced after the U.S. withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal under President Donald Trump in 2018. Both the U.S.-Israeli bombing in 2025 and the ongoing war have targeted Iran's nuclear program.

Internal Unrest and Crackdowns

Khamenei's rule was marked by persistent political repression and economic struggles, which fueled several waves of protests. Significant demonstrations occurred in 2009 over disputed presidential elections, in 2017 and 2019 over economic issues, and in 2022 following the death of Mahsa Amini. In late 2025, widespread economic protests evolved into a major movement demanding an end to the Islamic Republic, met with a severe crackdown.

Succession Questions

Khamenei's death raises significant questions about the future of the Islamic Republic. His son, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, was reportedly chosen as the next supreme leader, but his public appearances have ceased, possibly due to injuries sustained in the strikes that killed his father. The role of the Revolutionary Guard in maintaining power following Khamenei's death is expected to be crucial.