Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has crushed recent protests with the bloodiest crackdown in his nearly four decades of power. Facing an American flotilla nearby, Khamenei warns that a U.S. attack will lead to regional war. He has reversed his previous stance and is allowing negotiations with the U.S. over Iran’s nuclear program. The protests highlight deep economic issues and resentment of clerical rule. Khamenei’s rule faces challenges from both domestic unrest and damaged military capabilities. Despite this, Khamenei maintains control through the Revolutionary Guard, which has become a dominant force in Iran’s politics and economy.
