Who Is Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei? | Why Israel Is Targeting Him Amid Escalating Tensions

Since 1989, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been the Supreme Commander of Iran - making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East. Khamenei came to power after the demise of Rohullah Khomeini, which essentially means Khamenei is the second-ever commander of Iran. Khamenei served as the third president of Iran from 1981 to 1989, while becoming a close ally of the first supreme leader. Now 85, Khamenei controls everything from Iran’s foreign policy to military and judiciary. But as the Iran–Israel conflict escalates, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have issued stark threats at Israel could go ahead and target Ali Hosseini Khamenei, suggesting even Khamenei himself could be assassinated. The world closely watches Khamenei as his closest aides now have been assassinated by Israel and is now attempting to de-throne him. Watch as we break down to you Who really is Khamenei? How did he rise to power after Khamenei? Why is he such a powerful, polarizing figure in global geopolitics?