At 86, Ayatollah Ali #Khamenei stands as both the unyielding guardian of Iran’s Islamic revolution and the enduring symbol of its defiance, a legacy his adversaries seem determined to shatter.
As the region teeters on the brink of wider conflict, he remains the central force shaping Iran’s trajectory at one of its most perilous moments since 1979.
Since becoming Supreme Leader in 1989, Khamenei has outlasted US presidents, Israeli threats, foreign wars, crushing sanctions, political unrest, and waves of internal dissent.
🔗https://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2025/Jun/22/irans-unyielding-guardian-enduring-symbol-of-defiance
As the region teeters on the brink of wider conflict, he remains the central force shaping Iran’s trajectory at one of its most perilous moments since 1979.
Since becoming Supreme Leader in 1989, Khamenei has outlasted US presidents, Israeli threats, foreign wars, crushing sanctions, political unrest, and waves of internal dissent.
🔗https://www.newindianexpress.com/thesundaystandard/2025/Jun/22/irans-unyielding-guardian-enduring-symbol-of-defiance
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Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali #Khamenei on Saturday made his first public appearance since the 12-day war between Israel and Iran began, attending a mourning ceremony on the eve of Ashoura.
Khamenei's absence during the war suggested the Iranian leader, who has final say on all state matters, had been in seclusion in a bunker — something not acknowledged by state media.
🔗 https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2025/Jul/06/irans-supreme-leader-makes-first-public-appearance-since-iran-israel-war-started
Khamenei's absence during the war suggested the Iranian leader, who has final say on all state matters, had been in seclusion in a bunker — something not acknowledged by state media.
🔗 https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2025/Jul/06/irans-supreme-leader-makes-first-public-appearance-since-iran-israel-war-started
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Foreign Secretary #VikramMisri visited the Embassy of Iran in New Delhi on Thursday to sign the condolence book following the death of #Iran’s Supreme Leader #Khamenei, in a symbolic gesture that comes amid rising tensions in #WestAsia.
🔗https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2026/Mar/05/foreign-secretary-vikram-misri-pays-condolence-for-khamenei-meets-iranian-envoy
🔗https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2026/Mar/05/foreign-secretary-vikram-misri-pays-condolence-for-khamenei-meets-iranian-envoy
"I don't know about condemning it, but we should certainly have condoled it."
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said he understands the Indian government's desire to take a cautious stand on the conflict between US-Israel and Iran, and hoped that it could make a public call to both sides to end the war quickly.
"It would have been appropriate, the day it happened, for us to express public condolences and share the grief of his (#Khamenei) loved ones and of his nation just as two years ago when president Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash, we immediately issued a condolence as well as announced national mourning," the Thiruvananthapuram MP added.
🔗https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2026/Mar/19/i-understand-governments-cautious-stand-india-should-push-for-peace-in-west-asia-tharoor
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said he understands the Indian government's desire to take a cautious stand on the conflict between US-Israel and Iran, and hoped that it could make a public call to both sides to end the war quickly.
"It would have been appropriate, the day it happened, for us to express public condolences and share the grief of his (#Khamenei) loved ones and of his nation just as two years ago when president Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash, we immediately issued a condolence as well as announced national mourning," the Thiruvananthapuram MP added.
🔗https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2026/Mar/19/i-understand-governments-cautious-stand-india-should-push-for-peace-in-west-asia-tharoor
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#Iran’s newly appointed Supreme Leader, #MojtabaKhamenei, is currently governing from an undisclosed hideout while struggling to recover from catastrophic injuries sustained in a joint U.S.-Israeli airstrike, according to a report.
The report, which draws on interviews with six senior Iranian officials, Revolutionary Guard members, and individuals close to the leadership, suggests that the younger #Khamenei is physically incapacitated and increasingly dependent on a circle of hard-line military generals who have effectively seized control of the state’s decision-making apparatus.
🔗https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2026/Apr/24/severly-wounded-mojtaba-khamenei-delegates-power-to-generals-as-military-junta-takes-control-of-iran-report
#USIranWar
The report, which draws on interviews with six senior Iranian officials, Revolutionary Guard members, and individuals close to the leadership, suggests that the younger #Khamenei is physically incapacitated and increasingly dependent on a circle of hard-line military generals who have effectively seized control of the state’s decision-making apparatus.
🔗https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2026/Apr/24/severly-wounded-mojtaba-khamenei-delegates-power-to-generals-as-military-junta-takes-control-of-iran-report
#USIranWar
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India will be represented at the state funeral of #Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali #Khamenei, by #Bihar Governor Lt Gen (retd) #SyedAtaHasnain and Minister of State for External Affairs Pabitra Margherita.
They will attend the funeral ceremonies beginning on 4 July on behalf of the Government of India, following an invitation from Iranian President #MasoudPezeshkian to Prime Minister #NarendraModi.
🔗https://www.newindianexpress.com/india/2026/Jun/30/bihar-governor-and-mos-will-represent-india-at-khameneis-state-funeral
They will attend the funeral ceremonies beginning on 4 July on behalf of the Government of India, following an invitation from Iranian President #MasoudPezeshkian to Prime Minister #NarendraModi.
🔗https://www.newindianexpress.com/india/2026/Jun/30/bihar-governor-and-mos-will-represent-india-at-khameneis-state-funeral
Iran's Supreme Leader #MojtabaKhamenei, will skip the funeral ceremonies of his father, former Supreme Leader Ali #Khamenei, citing security concerns, said his representative in India, Ayatollah Hakim Elahi.
Elahi attributed the decision to Israeli threats and surveillance risks that would make public attendance dangerous.
🔗https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2026/Jul/03/mojtaba-khamenei-to-skip-father-ali-khameneis-funeral-due-to-israeli-threats-security-risks
Elahi attributed the decision to Israeli threats and surveillance risks that would make public attendance dangerous.
🔗https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2026/Jul/03/mojtaba-khamenei-to-skip-father-ali-khameneis-funeral-due-to-israeli-threats-security-risks
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"They are all there. One shot, and we can take them all out, but we are not going to do that because then we would have nobody to negotiate with."
US President #DonaldTrump said he has been closely following the funeral ceremony of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali #Khamenei and claimed that Iran's top leadership had gathered in one place, presenting what he described as a "potential military opportunity".
Speaking to Axios, Trump suggested the US could have targeted Iran's leadership but chose not to because of ongoing diplomatic efforts.
🔗https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2026/Jul/05/they-are-all-there-trump-says-irans-top-leaders-could-be-taken-out-with-one-shot-at-khameneis-funeral
US President #DonaldTrump said he has been closely following the funeral ceremony of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali #Khamenei and claimed that Iran's top leadership had gathered in one place, presenting what he described as a "potential military opportunity".
Speaking to Axios, Trump suggested the US could have targeted Iran's leadership but chose not to because of ongoing diplomatic efforts.
🔗https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2026/Jul/05/they-are-all-there-trump-says-irans-top-leaders-could-be-taken-out-with-one-shot-at-khameneis-funeral
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Hundreds of thousands of mourners began a dayslong funeral for Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali #Khamenei, beating their chests in sorrow before the glass case containing his flag-draped coffin in Tehran and calling for revenge against Israel and the US.
The funeral for Khamenei, who ruled Iran for decades before he was killed at age 86 in a Feb. 28 airstrike in the opening moments of the #Iranwar, could provide a boost for the country's theocracy and its new supreme leader, his son Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.
🔗https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2026/Jul/05/iran-begins-dayslong-funeral-for-supreme-leader-ayatollah-ali-khamenei-killed-in-war
The funeral for Khamenei, who ruled Iran for decades before he was killed at age 86 in a Feb. 28 airstrike in the opening moments of the #Iranwar, could provide a boost for the country's theocracy and its new supreme leader, his son Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.
🔗https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2026/Jul/05/iran-begins-dayslong-funeral-for-supreme-leader-ayatollah-ali-khamenei-killed-in-war