‘Les Mizrables fan, $ 95 billion Empire’: 10 interesting things about Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameni

As Iran fights a wave of Israeli aerial attacks targeting its nuclear infrastructure and military leadership, a person lives at the center of unfollowed crisis: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. At the age of 86, he defeated the presidents, faced international sanctions, and crushed domestic rebellions. Now, his regional proxy networks weakened and allegedly threatened their own existence, Khameni faced the most serious challenge of his long rule.Rarely seen publicly and still exists in Iran’s decision making, with unmatched rights in all branches of the Khameni state. He commands the army, directs foreign policy, shapes the nuclear program, and controls the huge economic property. For supporters, he is an incarnation of revolutionary resolution; For critics, architects of repression and confrontation.From secret bunkers to literary appreciation for lace miracles, Khameni remains a deep esoteric shape.

Here are ten interesting facts about Iran’s most influential man:

From prison to president

Born in 1939, Khameni was repeatedly jailed under the US-backed Shah for his political activism. A close associate of Ruhollah Khomeini, he rose through clerics during the revolution and became the President of Iran in the 1980s. When Khomeini died in 1989, Khameni raised the supreme leader, with a lack of senior religious credentials expected for the role. His presidential post and war -time leadership had earned adequate support among the major groups to secure him the top position.

Real power behind the presidency

Although the Iranian President often makes the headlines of Firebrands, especially like Mahmud Ahmadinejad, it is Khameni that eventually determines the policy. He says the final on military, judiciary, foreign relations and even those who can run to the office. The President can act as public faces, but no major decision increases without the approval of the Supreme Leader. Western leaders, including Trump and Bush, have denied the dynamics of power in Iran by focusing a lot of focus on elected figures.

Architect of Iran’s ‘axis of resistance’

Khamenei has long deployed Iran as a regional counterweight for us, Israel and Saudi influence. He helped creating and maintaining a huge network of proxy forces in the Middle East, including Hizbullah in Lebanon, militia in Iraq, Hauthis in Yemen and Hamas in Gaza. Known as the “axis of resistance”, this alliance allowed Iran to increase the impact without direct conflict. But recently Israeli military works have badly damaged this network, especially in Syria and Gaza.

Tireless against domestic dissatisfaction

Internal, Khamenei has given a strong reply to political opposition and protest movements. From the late 1990s reformist waves to the 2009 Green Movement and Mahsa Amini’s death 2022, their security mechanisms have been brutally exploded by a specially revolutionary guard. With each wave of disagreement test, but not breaking its grip on power, large -scale arrests, murders and alleged torture have been reported.

Supreme religious power with political priorities

Whereas officially the highest clerical rights in Iran, Khamenei, lacks religious gravity of Khomeini, its predecessor. Many Shia in Iran and abroad change instead of grand Ayatullah Ali Sistani in Iraq. Nevertheless, Khamenei has compensated the Supreme Leader’s office into a powerful political center, centralized the control over Iran’s fragmented system and ensures that all liver respond to him.

A hidden Arab-Dollar Empire

According to an investigation by the Reuters, the Khamenei controls a huge economic empire of an estimated $ 95 billion through an organization called Setad. Although there is no evidence that he personally enriches himself, consolidating wealth and impact for Setad regime, manages property in oil, telecommunications, finance and even ostrich cultivation. It has also been accused of seizing assets under suspected legal claims from religious minorities and exile.

The Revolutionary Guard: his private army

Under Khameni, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has become the most powerful institute in Iran. Along with defending the Islamic system, IRGC controls Iran’s missiles and drone programs and has deep economic interests. QUDS force, its outer wing, manages the regional operations of Iran. In return in return, Khameni has allowed the guard to significantly autonomous and impact in both business and politics.

A vigilant but calculation leader

Although he often uses fierce rhetoric, Khamenei is seen by analysts as more practical than many of Iran’s presidents. They have oscillated between the West confusing and pushing hardline resistance. In 2003, he issued a fatwa as nuclear weapons as un-Islamic, but he still supports Iran’s promotion program. Their decisions are often guided by a cold calculation that preserves the regime best and its position leads it up.

Rare public appearances, continuous control

Khamenei is repeated, carefully managed with public appearances and tightly watchman movements. Their personal protection is controlled by a particular IRGC unit. During the recent Israeli attacks on Tehran, reports claimed that he was taken to a secret bunker to stay in contact with military leadership. Despite his physical absence from the frontline, his role as the supreme commander of Iran is condemnable.

Cultural interests between geopolitical upheaval

Despite his staunch politics and recurrent personality, Ayatollah Khamenei has often talked about the power of literature, especially Victor Hugo’s Less Misareals. He once said: “Less Misrayables is miraculous among all other novels. I have recommended all young people to read again and again. Les Misrayals are a sociological work of art in a way: This is a record of history.,