Ali Khamenei is considered one of the world's longest-serving authoritarian leaders. Currently 86 years old, Khamenei has held absolute political power in Iran for approximately forty years and maintains the status of supreme commander of the armed forces amidst the country's war with Israel.
Modern.az reports that, in terms of age, Khamenei is currently the fourth oldest political leader in the world. Among those older than him are 92-year-old Cameroonian President Paul Biya, 90-year-old Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and 90-year-old Saudi Arabian King Salman.
Khamenei also ranks high in terms of time in power. Khamenei is the sixth longest-serving and continuously ruling authoritarian leader in the world. The 86-year-old Ali Khamenei has remained the supreme political figure in Iran for 36 years. Possessing broad constitutional powers, Khamenei is the de facto leader of both his army and key state institutions, and he maintains his influence amidst ongoing processes in the Middle East.
Individuals in power on the African continent hold a special place on this list. For instance, King Mswati III of Eswatini has held the throne for 39 years and is the country's president for life. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni has managed complete control of the country for 39 years.
Among leaders with longer tenures in power, Cameroonian President Paul Biya stands out. The 92-year-old Biya has been head of state for 42 years, making him one of the world's oldest and longest-serving political leaders. In Equatorial Guinea, President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo has been in power for 45 years and remains the main pillar of the political system.
At the top of the list is Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei. He has ruled the country for 57 years and is currently the longest-serving head of state in the world. He is one of the few remaining absolute monarchs globally.
Among individuals formally holding the status of head of state, only 88-year-old King Harald V of Norway is considered older than Khamenei. However, the Norwegian monarch has no actual governing powers, and therefore his position is not comparable to Khamenei's status.
It should be noted that the Iranian Constitution grants the Supreme Leader extremely broad powers. Khamenei maintains full control over the army, the judiciary, and state broadcasting, and directly makes appointments to strategic positions such as the head of the judiciary and members of the Guardian Council. He also exercises de facto control over the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, which is on the US sanctions list.
Furthermore, important sectors of the Iranian economy are managed within the Supreme Leader's sphere of influence through religious foundations and associated private structures. The decision regarding the pre-determination of Khamenei's potential successors is usually made behind closed doors in Iran.
Currently, protest actions and clashes in several Iranian cities also bring to the forefront the question of whether Ali Khamenei will remain in power. Foreign sources note that if the processes escalate, his flight to Russia is not ruled out.
