Iran's Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is killed in Israeli strike, ending 36-year iron rule

Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been killed at the age of 86 in Israeli attacks, reportedly with U.S. support. His 36-year rule was marked by unwavering opposition to the U.S. and Israel and a resistance to internal reforms. Born in 1939, Khamenei rose through the religious ranks and became a key figure after the Islamic Revolution, eventually succeeding Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini as supreme leader in 1989. Despite initial insecurities about his credentials, Khamenei proved to be a cunning strategist, consolidating power with the help of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. He oversaw the development of Iran's ballistic missile program and its network of regional proxies, such as Hezbollah and Hamas. Khamenei's rule was characterized by the brutal suppression of internal dissent, with significant crackdowns on protests, including those in 2009 and late 2025. He also navigated complex international relations, including the 2015 nuclear deal and subsequent U.S. withdrawal. Ultimately, Khamenei's reliance on proxy groups, particularly Hamas's attack on Israel in October 2023, triggered a series of events that led to his demise. By the time of his death, Iran's key proxies were weakened, its air defenses destroyed, and its nuclear program in ruins, leaving a vulnerable nation without a clear successor.