Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. As Supreme Leader, he is the highest political and religious authority in Iran, with final control over the military, judiciary, state media, and key political institutions. Khamenei’s leadership has defined much of Iran’s modern political landscape. Under his rule, Iran has pursued a foreign policy based on independence, resistance to Western influence, and strategic regional alliances, including support for proxy groups in the Middle East. Domestically, Iran has experienced multiple waves of protests over political, economic, and social issues. Iran and the United States have not had formal diplomatic relations since 1980 and have been adversaries for decades. The U.S. government has designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization, and has imposed extensive sanctions on Iranian leadership.