Khamenei: The Power Architect in Iran for Over 30 Years

Since 1989, Ali Khamenei has not only been the Supreme Leader but also holds the absolute political and military power of the country. This is not a coincidence but the result of a carefully designed power structure. Although Khamenei is now over 86 years old, his position remains the only stable factor in Iran’s political landscape, where presidents change with each term.

From a Poor Boy to a Student of Khomeini

Khamenei was born on April 19, 1939, in Mashhad, northeastern Iran, into a family with a deep religious tradition but quite poor. His father, a modest Muslim cleric named Sayyed Javad Khamenei, taught his children to live simply and endure hardship patiently. “Our house was only 65 square meters, and dinner was usually bread and raisins,” Khamenei recalled.

His strong religious foundation was formed early when he began studying the Qur’an at a maktab (traditional school) at age 4. Later, he attended renowned religious schools in Mashhad such as Soleiman Khan and Nawwab, completing middle school in just five years with a focus on logic, philosophy, and Islamic law. His rapid learning attracted the attention of top scholars when he entered higher theological centers at age 18.

In 1957, Khamenei undertook a pilgrimage to the Islamic holy sites in Iraq and self-educated in Najaf—famous Shia religious learning center. However, instead of continuing there under the guidance of renowned scholars, he returned to Iran to follow his father’s wishes, settling in Qom from 1958. From 1958 to 1964, he was directly guided by Iran’s most prominent grand clerics, especially Ruhollah Khomeini—who would later become the first leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This relationship created a bond that Khamenei would consider a lifelong foundation for his political thought.

Absolute Loyalty to Khomeini: Roots of Power

From 1962, Khamenei officially joined the revolutionary movement led by Khomeini, opposing the monarchy of Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. This choice was not merely a political decision but a comprehensive religious commitment. Over 17 years, from 1962 to 1979, Khamenei was repeatedly arrested, tortured, and imprisoned for revolutionary activities, but he never abandoned his chosen path. This steadfastness earned him invaluable trust: in Khomeini’s eyes, Khamenei was a lifelong loyalist who would never waver.

This trait would become a key factor in his later appointment.

A Leap Forward: From Formal President to Supreme Leader

After the fall of the monarchy in 1979, Khamenei was trusted by Khomeini and quickly appointed to the Revolutionary Council. He also served as Deputy Minister of Defense and played a vital role in establishing the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—an independent military force parallel to the regular army, which later became the true power center of the Islamic Republic.

In 1981, Khamenei faced a major incident: a bombing at a mosque in Tehran that severely wounded him, leaving his right arm paralyzed permanently. Two months later, President Mohammad-Ali Rajai was assassinated, and Khamenei was elected as his successor. The presidency at that time was mostly ceremonial, but Khamenei used it to gradually build influence, especially on military and security issues. Ongoing conflicts with Prime Minister Mir Hossein Mousavi reflected a power struggle beneath Iran’s constitutional surface—designed to prevent excessive concentration of authority.

However, when Khomeini died in June 1989, the Assembly of Experts (composed of top Islamic scholars) elected Khamenei as Supreme Leader. This choice was surprising because Khamenei had not yet achieved the status of “marja-e taqlid”—the highest religious authority under Iran’s religious law. To address this, Iran’s constitution was amended with a flexible clause requiring the Supreme Leader to have “Islamic knowledge,” thus legally qualifying Khamenei. Soon after, he was elevated from Hojjat al-Islam to Ayatollah—a sign of divine blessing—marking a symbolic milestone affirming his absolute authority within the new system.

Khamenei and Presidents: When the Supreme Leader Dominates

Although Iran’s constitution establishes a dual power structure (Supreme Leader and President), in practice Khamenei holds all decisive power. This is evident in his relationships with successive presidents:

• Mohammad Khatami (1997–2005) pursued reform and openness, but most initiatives were blocked by Khamenei.
• Conservative Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was initially seen as close to Khamenei, but they eventually clashed over personal power ambitions. His controversial re-election in 2009 sparked massive protests—the largest since 1979—and Khamenei ordered a harsh crackdown, resulting in dozens of deaths and thousands of arrests.
• Hassan Rouhani (2013–2021) negotiated the 2015 nuclear deal with Khamenei’s approval, but he lacked support for economic and social reforms. When U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions, Iran’s economy plunged into crisis. Khamenei bluntly declared: “I have said from the beginning—don’t trust America.” This demonstrated that the Supreme Leader not only has the power to approve or reject policies but also shapes the country’s long-term strategic direction.

Hardline Foreign Policy: Khamenei and Iran’s Global Stance

From his time as president (1981–1989), Khamenei laid the groundwork for an antagonistic foreign policy. He declared he would eliminate “liberalism and American-influenced elements” from Iran. As Supreme Leader, he continued and intensified this stance, seen as a continuation of Khomeini’s hardline policies.

This approach was especially evident after the U.S. drone strike killing General Qasem Soleimani in January 2020. Khamenei vowed to avenge “brutally” and stated: “More important is to end America’s presence in the region.” Although the missile retaliation was called a “slap in the face of America,” Khamenei’s statement clarified that the real goal was to shift the strategic balance in the region.

Regarding Israel, Khamenei maintains that the country is a “cancerous tumor” that must be removed from the region. This rhetoric is not just political but a core part of his strategy, linking Iran with forces in Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq through the IRGC and allied organizations.

Power Mechanisms: Why Khamenei Maintains Absolute Control

The key question is: why, despite changing presidents, does Khamenei retain total control? The answer lies in the institutional framework.

First, Khamenei controls the main military forces, especially the IRGC. From early on, he participated in establishing and leading the IRGC, making it an unreplaceable power base. The IRGC is not only a military force but also a vast economic conglomerate, controlling everything from defense industries to commercial activities, creating a broad network of interests around him.

Second, the Guardian Council—an institution directly overseen by Khamenei—must approve all political candidates before they can run. This ensures that only loyal or at least non-oppositional figures can ascend to power.

Third, the Assembly of Experts—an institution theoretically empowered to elect or dismiss the Supreme Leader—is composed of 88 Islamic scholars elected every eight years. However, candidates must be approved by the Guardian Council, and most current members are long-standing loyalists of Khamenei, making the body largely symbolic. Once elected, members are tasked with “supervising” the Supreme Leader, but in practice, this rarely occurs.

Succession: Power After Khamenei

At over 86 and with health issues, questions about the future after Khamenei are growing. The Assembly of Experts will choose his successor, but the real challenge is: who can fill the enormous power vacuum Khamenei leaves?

Theoretically, the Assembly has full authority to choose, but in reality, the control mechanisms of the Guardian Council and the IRGC ensure that only approved figures can win. This creates a paradox: the Assembly has the power in theory, but in practice, it is constrained by the control systems built and reinforced by Khamenei over the past 30 years.

Amid increasing pressure from the U.S. and Israel, the transfer of power is not only an internal matter but also impacts the entire regional balance. Khamenei has built an extremely centralized power system, so any change could trigger unpredictable upheavals. Therefore, Iran’s future after Khamenei remains a major unknown.