During the 12-day war with Israel and the United States last June, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reportedly retreated to a bunker beneath his compound in Tehran, avoiding public appearances and electronic communication, a move that analysts see as emblematic of his long and unyielding rule. Khamenei, 86, has maintained a static and authoritarian system throughout his 37-year reign over the Islamic Republic, resisting changes that could dilute the regime's power and maintaining a hostile stance toward the United States.

Analysts suggest that Khamenei's leadership is characterized by a refusal to compromise on his core ideologies. "He is an obstructionist; I do not see him late in life compromising on ideology and his legacy," said Sanam Vakil, the director of the Middle East and North Africa Program at Chatham House. Vakil added that Khamenei is determined to preserve the existing system at any cost, viewing it as an existential and ideological struggle.

Khamenei succeeded Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989, inheriting a nation shaped by the Islamic Revolution of 1979 and the Iran-Iraq War. Over the decades, he has consolidated power, suppressing dissent and maintaining strict control over political and social life. His tenure has been marked by periodic nationwide protests, which have become increasingly frequent in recent years, reflecting underlying tensions within Iranian society.

The Supreme Leader's unwavering stance has significant implications for Iran's domestic and foreign policies. Domestically, it limits the scope for political reform and social liberalization. Internationally, it perpetuates tensions with the United States and its allies, hindering efforts to resolve regional conflicts and integrate Iran into the global economy. The future trajectory of Iran under Khamenei's continued leadership remains uncertain, but analysts anticipate a continuation of the current system, characterized by ideological rigidity and resistance to change.