How Khamenei transformed Iran

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei waves to his supporters during a press conference after casting his ballot for the parliamentary runoff elections in Tehran on May 10, 2024. | Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images

In the weeks leading up to the latest US-Israeli airstrikes against Iran, there were reports that President Donald Trump’s administration was considering targeting Iran’s senior leadership, including Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Khamenei himself appeared to be preparing for the end.