Saeid Golkar
Moment, June 19, 2025
“While Khamenei’s rule remains unchallenged, he has a notable weakness: Among leaders in the modern world, he is one of the most disliked by his people.”
In the wake of Israeli attacks since June 12, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, was forced into hiding, retreating to an underground bunker to ensure his safety as the nation grappled with the fallout. This moment of vulnerability underscored the fragile balance of power he has maintained for decades, casting a long shadow over his life and legacy as a ruthless dictator. While his supporters praise his resilience in guiding Iran through turbulent times, critics view this retreat as emblematic of a leadership style shrouded in secrecy, insulated from the consequences of its hard-line policies.
With the death of Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989, Iran had a chance for a different leader, one concerned about national interests and the lives of everyday people. Unfortunately, we got a radical militant Islamist who only cared about creating an Islamic empire.
Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei, known as Grand Ayatollah Khamenei and the second supreme leader, is an Islamic strongman. Like all Islamists, he wants an Islamic society with an Islamic government and ultimately a world dominated by Islam. And like all strongmen, he believes that to achieve his goals, he can use any means necessary, including violence and terror, including using proxy militia groups such as Hamas and Hezbollah.
Before the revolution and before he became president in 1981, Ayatollah Khamenei was often described as a spiteful, uncharismatic and power-hungry man. He was not the chosen successor of the first supreme leader. Still, when Khomeini died, there was some political jockeying, and Khamenei, a middle-rank member of the clergy, was quickly promoted to the higher rank of ayatollah and named the second supreme leader. The idea was that Khamenei would rule for ten years and then Khomeini’s son would take over. Many seminarians felt the whole process was illegitimate. ….SOURCE