Ali Khamenei

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is the Supreme Leader of Iran, a position he has held since 1989. He is the highest political and religious authority in the country. Khamenei is newsworthy due to escalating tensions between Iran and the US, particularly regarding Iran's nuclear program and recent anti-government protests. He has accused the US, specifically President Trump, of instigating the protests and being responsible for the deaths of thousands. The US has responded by imposing sanctions on Khamenei's aides and other Iranian officials. Calls for protester executions by senior clerics, coupled with a brutal crackdown, have further intensified the situation. The protests, fueled by economic hardship and political discontent, highlight the regime's vulnerability, while the US considers its options, including potential military action, amid stalled negotiations over Iran's nuclear ambitions. Khamenei's leadership is central to Iran's internal and foreign policies, making him a key figure in the ongoing crisis.