Coverage dated February 27, 2026 to February 28, 2026

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s murderous history of tyranny as Iran’s supreme leader

Headline from New York Post, on the newest of 2 developments

Iran’s eliminated tyrant Ayatollah Ali Khamenei spent nearly 37 years as the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader, overseeing a murderous, oppressive regime with more than 30,000 state-sponsored executions under his watch.

New York Post's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Earlier updates in this story

Developments in this update

2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

  1. The rise and fall of Iran’s ruthless and pragmatic Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

    Headline from The Guardian ·

  2. Newest

    Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s murderous history of tyranny as Iran’s supreme leader

    Headline from New York Post ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

7 articles, oldest first.

  1. The Guardian

    The rise and fall of Iran’s ruthless and pragmatic Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    The radical cleric took over as supreme leader in 1989 and is likely to be replaced by hardline figures

  2. Al-Monitor

    Iran's Khamenei: ruthless revolutionary at apex of Islamic republic (opens Al-Monitor)

    Published

    Al-Monitor's feed description

    Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei, a pillar of its theocratic system since the Islamic revolution, has seen off a succession of crises throughout his rule with a mixture of repression and strategic manoeuvring but now could be facing his biggest challenge.

  3. The Guardian

    Ayatollah Ali Khameini obituary (opens The Guardian)

    Published

    The Guardian's feed description

    Supreme leader of Iran who maintained theocratic rule at home and an anti-western axis of resistance in the Middle East

  4. The Conversation US

    Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ruled Iran with defiance and brutality for 36 years. For many Iranians, he will not be revered (opens The Conversation US)

    Published

    The Conversation US's feed description

    Khamenei will largely be remembered for the profound weakness his leadership brought the Islamic Republic.

  5. New York Post

    Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s murderous history of tyranny as Iran’s supreme leader (opens New York Post)

    Published

    New York Post's feed description

    Iran’s eliminated tyrant Ayatollah Ali Khamenei spent nearly 37 years as the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader, overseeing a murderous, oppressive regime with more than 30,000 state-sponsored executions under his watch.

  6. Newsweek

    How Khamenei reshaped Middle East across decades of Iran brutality (opens Newsweek)

    Published

    Newsweek's feed description

    Perspective: Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ruled Iran with repression for decades and leaves a bloody legacy.

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.

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