logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2025
9m 8s

Who is Iran’s Supreme Leader?

Bbc World Service
About this episode

After twelve days of intense fighting, Israel and Iran have agreed to a ceasefire that, for now, seems to be holding.

Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, is the man in charge in Tehran. His current whereabouts are a mystery. As we wait to see what’s next in this conflict, we look into his leadership and how power works in Iran with the help of Ghoncheh Habibiazad from the BBC Persian team. Plus we explain what role President Masoud Pezeshkian plays in all of this too.

Instagram: @bbcwhatintheworld WhatsApp: +44 0330 12 33 22 6 Email: whatintheworld@bbc.co.uk Presenter: William Lee Adams Producers: Benita Barden and Maria Clara Montoya Editor: Julia Ross-Roy

Up next
Yesterday
Hyrox could become an Olympic sport
When you think of Hyrox, you might remember of those viral pictures of an athlete pushing through the race even though diarrhoea was running down her legs.Her name is Joanna Wietrzyk - and in an exclusive interview with the BBC, she’s described the fallout after she won the compe ... Show More
9m 44s
Oct 29
Would you use an 'Etsy witch'?
Need good weather for your birthday? Want a date to go well? Maybe you’ve got exams coming up or want a promotion at work and need some good vibes. An 'Etsy witch' might be able to help… There are loads of online witches on platforms, like eBay and Etsy, offering spells to help u ... Show More
11m 23s
Oct 28
Why Kylian Mbappe has been cancelled in China
Kylian Mbappé - the French football superstar sometimes nicknamed a ‘Dictator’ online - has found himself at the centre of a scandal in China this week, after mentioning one of the memes made about him. It shows his face on the body of Mao Zedong, the former Chinese leader, and o ... Show More
9m 54s
Recommended Episodes
Jul 2025
The President Of Iran
Masoud Pezeshkian, president of Iran. (00:00) How Would Iranian President Pezeshkian Like to See This Conflict End? (07:04) Is Iran Open to Diplomacy? (18:03) The Ayatollah’s Religious Decree Against Donald Trump (25:58) If War Breaks Out With Iran, Would They Receive Assistance ... Show More
29m 23s
Feb 2021
Who Is Ali Khamenei?
<p>Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, is one of the most powerful and one of the most enigmatic people in the world. Often positioned as a primary global antagonist of the United States, Khamenei and his regime have endured five American presi ... Show More
43m 28s
Aug 2021
Iran under Raisi
<p>How will Iran’s new president tackle growing disillusionment&nbsp;at home, a potentially hostile regime on its eastern border and negotiations to revive the nuclear deal? Andrew England, the FT’s Middle East editor, discusses what we can expect from Ebrahim Raisi with Sanam Va ... Show More
30m 10s
Aug 2024
What's Iran up to?
Middle Eastern nations are scrambling to protect a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas and prevent a regional conflict.    There are reports of imminent Iranian and Hezbollah retaliation on Israel, as the United States moves military assets to the region.   Joining Niall Pate ... Show More
17m 35s
Aug 2024
Israel, Lebanon and Iran
<p>Negar Mortazavi speaks to journalist Ali Hashem in Doha about rising tensions between Israel, Iran and Lebanon as ceasefire talks continue in Qatar.</p> 
42m 24s
Jul 2024
Iran: Will the new 'reformist' president change anything?
Critics of President-elect Masoud Pezeshkian say he is just a figurehead, and that control ultimately rests with Ayatollah Khamenei. Pezeshkian has vowed to heal the divisions caused by the Mahsa Amini protests and open up “constructive” talks with the West. But does he have the ... Show More
25m 54s
Feb 2025
With ‘maximum pressure’ back on the table, what will Iran do next?
Iran is facing a changed Middle East as it marks the anniversary of the Islamic revolution. With weakened allies and growing tensions with Israel and the United States, how will Iran’s leadership approach the year ahead? In this episode: Dorsa Jabbari (@DorsaJabbari), Al Jazeera ... Show More
20m 23s
Jan 2020
Why Iran Is in Mourning
<p>The killing of Maj. Gen. Qassim Suleimani, Iran’s most formidable military and intelligence leader, displayed the fault lines in a fractious region. From Iraq to Israel, many victims of the commander’s shadow warfare celebrated his death; but in Tehran, thousands filled the st ... Show More
25m 30s