Iran ruler's iron grip has lasted almost four decades. Who is the man Israel wants to kill?

Khomeini abolished the monarchy in favour of an Islamic republic system he had devised and was soon embroiled in hostilities with the US. The era of the ayatollahs (high-ranking Shiite Muslim religious scholars) began.
For years, Khamenei served as Iran's president under Khomeini, until the first supreme leader's death in 1989. Khamenei was then appointed leader, a role in which he has served for nearly four decades.
'That was somewhat controversial at the time because the Iranian Constitution stipulated the education requirements that the supreme leader needed to be a top Islamic scholar,' said Dara Conduit, a University of Melbourne research fellow specialising in Iran and the Middle East.
How much control does he wield?
Because Khamenei was appointed controversially, he was viewed as weak and lacking credibility at the beginning of his rule. But, said Conduit, he shed that label and has become immensely powerful.
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Khamenei holds ultimate authority over all branches of government, the military and the judiciary. While elected officials manage day-to-day affairs, no major policy – especially one involving the United States – proceeds without his explicit approval.
Iran's hardline Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the paramilitary Basij answer directly to Khamenei. He exercises control of the Setad, the clandestine state-owned financial enterprise worth tens of billions of dollars.
How has he remained in power?
His leadership style has blended ideological rigidity with strategic pragmatism. He is deeply sceptical of the West, particularly the US, which he accuses of seeking regime change. Yet he has shown a willingness to bend when the survival of the Islamic republic is at stake.
In 2013, Khamenei first mentioned the concept of 'heroic flexibility', which permits tactical compromises to advance his goals. His cautious endorsement of Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with six countries, including the US, was an example of this.
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He has maintained his concrete grip on power despite disdain from many of his own citizens, according to the Group for Analysing and Measuring Attitudes in Iran, a Dutch independent research group. When Iran president Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash last year, many Iranians celebrated. And when Israel attacked Tehran last week, some locals partied, chanting 'death to Khamenei'.
But he has quelled internal protests by deploying his Revolutionary Guard, notably against the huge 2009 Green Movement protests regarding the disputed re-election of president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. Then in 2022, Khamenei arrested, imprisoned and sometimes executed protesters enraged by the death of young Iranian-Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini.

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SBS Australia

5 hours ago

• SBS Australia

What we know and don't know about Iran's nuclear ambitions

Natanz nuclear facility in central Iran has been targeted by Israel in recent airstrikes. Source: EPA, AAP / Abedin Taherkenareh While Iran's perceived nuclear capabilities are a key driver of the country's ongoing hostilities with Israel, there is much that remains unknown about Tehran's nuclear program and some experts argue the program's true endgame remains unclear. According to Israeli officials, the primary goal of the 13 June attacks on Iran, which started the ongoing air war between the countries, was to wipe out Iran's nuclear program. Israel accuses the Islamic Republic of Iran of seeking to develop a nuclear weapon, which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu describes as an "existential threat to Israel". However, the Iranian regime has always denied claims it's pursuing nuclear weapons, saying its program is aimed at "developing civilian nuclear power". Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has repeatedly emphasised his 2003 fatwa (Islamic legal ruling) against the development of nuclear weapons. Dara Conduit, a political science lecturer at Melbourne University, told SBS News that it's "very difficult to know" what's motivating Iran's nuclear program. "The best information we have is the US Intelligence Assessment that was released in March, which said that there was no evidence that Iran was attempting to make a nuclear weapon." Then, Gabbard said the US intelligence community didn't believe Iran was building a nuclear weapon. On Saturday, she said her testimony had been taken "out of context" and provided a new appraisal. "America has intelligence that Iran is at the point that it can produce a nuclear weapon within weeks to months, if they decide to finalise the assembly," she said. However, a source with access to US intelligence reports told Reuters the March assessment had not changed. They claimed the country's spy services estimated it would take Iran up to three years to develop a warhead capable of hitting a target of its choice. Iran's civilian nuclear program began in the 1950s with US support under the Atoms for Peace initiative. That support was ended by the 1979 Islamic Revolution, after which Iran started to work with Russia and China on nuclear projects. It wasn't until 2002, when information about undeclared enrichment sites in central Iran was brought to light, that the world became aware of significant advancements of Iran's nuclear program since the revolution. However, there was no official statement on the country's enrichment capability until 2006, when then-president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad announced that Iranian scientists had successfully enriched uranium to 3.5 per cent. Most civilian nuclear reactors require 3 to 5 per cent enrichment. While a nuclear weapon can be made with uranium that's only 20 per cent enriched, nuclear-armed nations usually use about 90 per cent enriched uranium, ANU Department of Nuclear Physics researcher Kaitlin Cook wrote in a recent Conversation article. A day before Israel's strikes, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran was able to produce 34 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 per cent each month. According to the IAEA, Iran also had enough uranium enriched to near-weapons grade to build nine nuclear bombs if it were further enriched. "The problem is that they are enriching uranium to a level that is far higher than what would be required for a civilian nuclear capacity," Conduit said. "Why are they doing that? We don't know. "It could be that the regime is intending to pursue a nuclear weapon, or it could be that the regime is trying to strengthen its hand [for] when it does get back to the negotiating table." The IAEA's June assessment found that Iran was in breach of its non-proliferation obligations and it could not declare the country's nuclear program was "exclusively peaceful", as per the terms of a 2015 nuclear deal. In 2015, Iran and the "P5+1 group" — comprising the US, Russia, China, France, the UK, and Germany — reached a deal that committed signatories to limit their nuclear programs in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions. As part of the deal, Iran agreed that for 15 years it would enrich uranium only up to 3.67 per cent. However, in 2018, a first-term Donald Trump decided to exit the agreement negotiated under his predecessor, Barack Obama. "It is clear to me that we cannot prevent an Iranian nuclear bomb under the decaying and rotten structure of the current agreement," he said at the time. Conduit said Trump's decision was made despite the fact that "Iran was upholding its side of the agreement". "I guess that was the first step towards the crisis that we see Iran in now." Following Trump's re-election in 2024, he said he was looking to make a new deal with Iran. In recent months, Iranian and American representatives have held several rounds of negotiations, mainly focusing on enrichment. During the negotiations, the Iranian foreign minister said his nation would not accept suspending uranium enrichment completely, something US officials have demanded. Israel's strike on Iran effectively halted that round of negotiations. On Saturday, Gideon Sa'ar, Israel's foreign minister, told German newspaper Bild that his country's strikes had already delayed Iran's potential to develop a nuclear weapon by "at least two or three years". In a statement on Friday, IAEA chief Rafael Grossi confirmed some damage to various nuclear facilities in Iran, but didn't clarify the precise impacts on the country's nuclear enrichment capabilities.

The Age

6 hours ago

• The Age

The ‘sandwich generation' and the age of caring

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The Advertiser

a day ago

• The Advertiser

Europe to tell Iran that US open to direct talks

European foreign ministers will tell their Iranian counterpart that the US is open to direct talks even as it considers joining Israeli strikes intended to smash Tehran's nuclear capacity, diplomats say before a meeting in Geneva. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi would be told that Iran must send a "clear signal", two diplomats told Reuters, with pressure mounting on Tehran to agree tough curbs on its nuclear program to prevent the potential development of an atomic weapon. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to several Western counterparts before the meeting in Switzerland, the diplomats said, indicating readiness to engage directly with Tehran. Washington did not confirm that though broadcaster CNN quoted a US official saying President Donald Trump supported diplomacy from allies that could bring Iran closer to a deal. Tehran, however, has repeatedly said it will not talk to the Trump administration until Israeli attacks end. The ministers from Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3, plus the European Union's foreign policy chief, were meeting separately on Friday before planned face-to-face talks with Araqchi. "The Iranians can't sit down with the Americans whereas we can," a European diplomat said. "We will tell them to come back to the table to discuss the nuclear issue before the worst-case scenario, while raising our concerns over its ballistic missiles, support to Russia and detention of our citizens." The talks were due for mid-afternoon in Geneva, where an initial accord between Iran and world powers to curb its nuclear program in return for sanctions lifting was struck in 2013 before a comprehensive deal in 2015. Separate talks between Iran and the US collapsed when Israel launched what it called Operation Rising Lion against Iran's nuclear facilities and ballistic capabilities on June 12. "There is no room for negotiations with the US until Israeli aggression stops," Araqchi was quoted as saying on Iranian state TV on Friday. The E3 have in past talks with Iran suggested it keep some uranium enrichment but accept extremely strict international inspections of its nuclear activities. Trump has demanded zero enrichment and French President Emmanuel Macron appeared to echo that call on Friday, saying any new deal needed to go towards zero enrichment for Iran. The main message Europeans will pass to Araqchi is that the US has signalled readiness for direct talks, but that Iran must give a serious signal, the two European diplomats said, without defining what the signal should be. Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has spoken to Araqchi several times since last week, sources say. While diplomats did not expect a breakthrough in Geneva, they said it was vital to engage with Iran because once the war stopped the nuclear issue would remain unresolved given that Tehran would still retain the scientific know-how. Trump has said he will decide within two weeks whether to join Israeli strikes. "A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution," British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said. European foreign ministers will tell their Iranian counterpart that the US is open to direct talks even as it considers joining Israeli strikes intended to smash Tehran's nuclear capacity, diplomats say before a meeting in Geneva. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi would be told that Iran must send a "clear signal", two diplomats told Reuters, with pressure mounting on Tehran to agree tough curbs on its nuclear program to prevent the potential development of an atomic weapon. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to several Western counterparts before the meeting in Switzerland, the diplomats said, indicating readiness to engage directly with Tehran. Washington did not confirm that though broadcaster CNN quoted a US official saying President Donald Trump supported diplomacy from allies that could bring Iran closer to a deal. Tehran, however, has repeatedly said it will not talk to the Trump administration until Israeli attacks end. The ministers from Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3, plus the European Union's foreign policy chief, were meeting separately on Friday before planned face-to-face talks with Araqchi. "The Iranians can't sit down with the Americans whereas we can," a European diplomat said. "We will tell them to come back to the table to discuss the nuclear issue before the worst-case scenario, while raising our concerns over its ballistic missiles, support to Russia and detention of our citizens." The talks were due for mid-afternoon in Geneva, where an initial accord between Iran and world powers to curb its nuclear program in return for sanctions lifting was struck in 2013 before a comprehensive deal in 2015. Separate talks between Iran and the US collapsed when Israel launched what it called Operation Rising Lion against Iran's nuclear facilities and ballistic capabilities on June 12. "There is no room for negotiations with the US until Israeli aggression stops," Araqchi was quoted as saying on Iranian state TV on Friday. The E3 have in past talks with Iran suggested it keep some uranium enrichment but accept extremely strict international inspections of its nuclear activities. Trump has demanded zero enrichment and French President Emmanuel Macron appeared to echo that call on Friday, saying any new deal needed to go towards zero enrichment for Iran. The main message Europeans will pass to Araqchi is that the US has signalled readiness for direct talks, but that Iran must give a serious signal, the two European diplomats said, without defining what the signal should be. Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has spoken to Araqchi several times since last week, sources say. While diplomats did not expect a breakthrough in Geneva, they said it was vital to engage with Iran because once the war stopped the nuclear issue would remain unresolved given that Tehran would still retain the scientific know-how. Trump has said he will decide within two weeks whether to join Israeli strikes. "A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution," British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said. European foreign ministers will tell their Iranian counterpart that the US is open to direct talks even as it considers joining Israeli strikes intended to smash Tehran's nuclear capacity, diplomats say before a meeting in Geneva. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi would be told that Iran must send a "clear signal", two diplomats told Reuters, with pressure mounting on Tehran to agree tough curbs on its nuclear program to prevent the potential development of an atomic weapon. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to several Western counterparts before the meeting in Switzerland, the diplomats said, indicating readiness to engage directly with Tehran. Washington did not confirm that though broadcaster CNN quoted a US official saying President Donald Trump supported diplomacy from allies that could bring Iran closer to a deal. Tehran, however, has repeatedly said it will not talk to the Trump administration until Israeli attacks end. The ministers from Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3, plus the European Union's foreign policy chief, were meeting separately on Friday before planned face-to-face talks with Araqchi. "The Iranians can't sit down with the Americans whereas we can," a European diplomat said. "We will tell them to come back to the table to discuss the nuclear issue before the worst-case scenario, while raising our concerns over its ballistic missiles, support to Russia and detention of our citizens." The talks were due for mid-afternoon in Geneva, where an initial accord between Iran and world powers to curb its nuclear program in return for sanctions lifting was struck in 2013 before a comprehensive deal in 2015. Separate talks between Iran and the US collapsed when Israel launched what it called Operation Rising Lion against Iran's nuclear facilities and ballistic capabilities on June 12. "There is no room for negotiations with the US until Israeli aggression stops," Araqchi was quoted as saying on Iranian state TV on Friday. The E3 have in past talks with Iran suggested it keep some uranium enrichment but accept extremely strict international inspections of its nuclear activities. Trump has demanded zero enrichment and French President Emmanuel Macron appeared to echo that call on Friday, saying any new deal needed to go towards zero enrichment for Iran. The main message Europeans will pass to Araqchi is that the US has signalled readiness for direct talks, but that Iran must give a serious signal, the two European diplomats said, without defining what the signal should be. Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has spoken to Araqchi several times since last week, sources say. While diplomats did not expect a breakthrough in Geneva, they said it was vital to engage with Iran because once the war stopped the nuclear issue would remain unresolved given that Tehran would still retain the scientific know-how. Trump has said he will decide within two weeks whether to join Israeli strikes. "A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution," British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said. European foreign ministers will tell their Iranian counterpart that the US is open to direct talks even as it considers joining Israeli strikes intended to smash Tehran's nuclear capacity, diplomats say before a meeting in Geneva. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi would be told that Iran must send a "clear signal", two diplomats told Reuters, with pressure mounting on Tehran to agree tough curbs on its nuclear program to prevent the potential development of an atomic weapon. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke to several Western counterparts before the meeting in Switzerland, the diplomats said, indicating readiness to engage directly with Tehran. Washington did not confirm that though broadcaster CNN quoted a US official saying President Donald Trump supported diplomacy from allies that could bring Iran closer to a deal. Tehran, however, has repeatedly said it will not talk to the Trump administration until Israeli attacks end. The ministers from Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3, plus the European Union's foreign policy chief, were meeting separately on Friday before planned face-to-face talks with Araqchi. "The Iranians can't sit down with the Americans whereas we can," a European diplomat said. "We will tell them to come back to the table to discuss the nuclear issue before the worst-case scenario, while raising our concerns over its ballistic missiles, support to Russia and detention of our citizens." The talks were due for mid-afternoon in Geneva, where an initial accord between Iran and world powers to curb its nuclear program in return for sanctions lifting was struck in 2013 before a comprehensive deal in 2015. Separate talks between Iran and the US collapsed when Israel launched what it called Operation Rising Lion against Iran's nuclear facilities and ballistic capabilities on June 12. "There is no room for negotiations with the US until Israeli aggression stops," Araqchi was quoted as saying on Iranian state TV on Friday. The E3 have in past talks with Iran suggested it keep some uranium enrichment but accept extremely strict international inspections of its nuclear activities. Trump has demanded zero enrichment and French President Emmanuel Macron appeared to echo that call on Friday, saying any new deal needed to go towards zero enrichment for Iran. The main message Europeans will pass to Araqchi is that the US has signalled readiness for direct talks, but that Iran must give a serious signal, the two European diplomats said, without defining what the signal should be. Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff, has spoken to Araqchi several times since last week, sources say. While diplomats did not expect a breakthrough in Geneva, they said it was vital to engage with Iran because once the war stopped the nuclear issue would remain unresolved given that Tehran would still retain the scientific know-how. Trump has said he will decide within two weeks whether to join Israeli strikes. "A window now exists within the next two weeks to achieve a diplomatic solution," British Foreign Secretary David Lammy said.