**Ali Khamenei: Supreme Leader of Iran** **Ali Khamenei** is the Supreme Leader of Iran, the country's highest religious and political authority, a position he has held since 1989.[2][3] Born on July 17, 1939, in Mashhad, Iran, Khamenei rose to prominence as a key figure in the 1979 Islamic Revolution and became a close confidant of Ayatollah Khomeini.[1][5] Khamenei's political career advanced significantly during the Iran-Iraq War. He served as president of Iran from 1981 to 1989, initially elected following the assassination of President Mohammad-Ali Rajai in 1981.[1][5] During his presidency, he oversaw the government during the war and supported the clerical ruling elite, though his tenure was also marked by the arrest, imprisonment, and execution of dissidents.[3] In 1982, he survived an assassination attempt that paralyzed his right arm.[5] Following Ayatollah Khomeini's death in June 1989, the Assembly of Experts appointed Khamenei as the next Supreme Leader, despite his not meeting the traditional qualifications at the time.[2][3] The constitution was revised to require only that the supreme leader be an expert in Islamic law with government experience, clearing the path for his elevation.[3] As Supreme Leader, Khamenei wields substantial authority over Iran's judiciary, military, and media, and appoints the Guardian Council that oversees elections and legislation.[3][8] He has been instrumental in shaping Iran's nuclear program and approved the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear agreement, while maintaining a skeptical public stance during international negotiations.[2] Over more than three decades in power, Khamenei has consolidated near-absolute authority by centralizing power and positioning loyalists in key government positions.[2][7] In 2021, his preferred candidate, Ebrahim Raisi, won the presidential election, ensuring that major power centers remain under Khamenei's influence and that of his conservative allies.[7] Forbes and Time have recognized him as one of the world's most powerful figures.