Over the decades, Khamenei governed through some of the Islamic Republic’s most turbulent periods. The system he led faced repeated waves of unrest that tested both its legitimacy and endurance.
He remained in control during the 1999 student protests and again in 2009 when millions took to the streets following disputed presidential elections. The demonstrations of 2019, sparked by economic anger, were suppressed with force.
Another major challenge arrived with the nationwide “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests of 2022‑2023, triggered by the death in custody of Mahsa Amini, a Kurdish Iranian woman detained over alleged violations of Iran’s strict dress code for women.
Even earlier this year, fresh protests rattled the country — yet Khamenei once again appeared defiant, reinforcing the image of a leader who rarely yielded under pressure.