Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, is reported to have set a distinction between “protesters” whose demands were “fair” and “rioters” who must be put in their place. Despite the rapid spread of the protests, opinion is divided on the extent of the threat that it poses to regime stability. The supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, is 87 years old and in poor health, leading to widespread speculation over succession. Speculation ranges from hardline figures such as Khamenei’s son Mojtaba to the more reformist Hassan Khomeini, grandson of Iran’s first supreme leader, Ruhollah Khomeini. [ After US captures Nicolás Maduro, could Iran’s supreme leader be next?Opens in new window ]There is also some speculation that the next leader may not be a religious figure.

Source: The Irish Times January 07, 2026 12:05 UTC