Khamenei, who succeeded the Islamic Republic’s founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, steered Iran through decades of domestic unrest and regional conflict, expanding the authority of the Shiite clerical establishment and the Revolutionary Guard. His tenure saw the country confront both popular demands for reform and external pressure over its nuclear ambitions and military interventions. Analysts note that his passing opens an uncertain chapter for Iran’s political system, with the selection of a successor by the Assembly of Experts likely to determine the country’s immediate trajectory.

Khamenei’s death follows a major military strike reportedly carried out by Israel and the United States, which targeted Iranian nuclear facilities and senior officials. Iranian authorities announced 40 days of public mourning and a seven-day national holiday to mark his passing.

Early life and rise to power

Born in Mashhad in 1939, Khamenei studied under Khomeini at the Qom seminary and joined the anti-shah movement, enduring imprisonment and periods in hiding. After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, he served on the Revolutionary Council and later became Iran’s third president in 1981. A bombing the same year left him partially paralyzed.

Following Khomeini’s death in 1989, Khamenei was elevated to supreme leader and granted the rank of grand ayatollah, despite initial questions over his religious credentials. Over the subsequent decades, he solidified control over Iran’s government, expanding the clerical bureaucracy and embedding the Revolutionary Guard within both military and economic structures.

Domestic governance and unrest

Khamenei maintained a tight grip on political power, curbing reformist movements and suppressing opposition. Key challenges included the 1997 election of reformist President Mohammad Khatami, the disputed 2009 reelection of hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and widespread protests following economic hardship in 2017 and 2019.

The 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, detained for allegedly violating hijab rules, sparked nationwide demonstrations that were met with lethal crackdowns. Analysts cite such unrest as indicative of broader societal discontent, with repeated waves of protests challenging both Khamenei’s authority and the wider clerical establishment.

Regional influence and proxy strategy

Under Khamenei, Iran shifted from conventional military engagements to supporting regional proxies. The Revolutionary Guard’s Quds Force played a central role in backing Hezbollah in Lebanon, Houthi rebels in Yemen, and Shiite militias in Iraq and Syria. These operations extended Iran’s influence but also drew international scrutiny and retaliatory strikes.

The October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel and subsequent Israeli operations destabilized long-standing regional alliances, with Iran and Israel engaging directly in 2024 and again in mid-2025. These conflicts underscored both the reach and the limits of Iran’s proxy strategy.

Nuclear program and international confrontation

Khamenei oversaw Iran’s nuclear ambitions, rejecting U.S. sanctions and negotiations that he deemed insufficient. Despite a 2015 nuclear deal, the country’s uranium enrichment levels accelerated after the U.S. withdrawal from the accord in 2018. By 2025, Iran had amassed near-weapons-grade uranium, heightening global concerns.

Repeated talks with the United States and allied pressure failed to resolve the nuclear standoff. Military strikes by Israel and the U.S. targeted facilities and personnel, inflicting substantial damage while leaving the program’s overall progress uncertain.

Uncertain succession

Iran’s Assembly of Experts, an 88-member body of clerics, is responsible for selecting Khamenei’s successor. No clear heir has been publicly identified, and analysts suggest that the Revolutionary Guard will play a decisive role in shaping the transition. The nation of 90 million faces a period of political uncertainty amid ongoing economic challenges, international scrutiny, and public calls for reform.

Khamenei’s death marks the end of an era in Iran, closing a chapter defined by clerical consolidation, regional interventions, and enduring tensions with the West. How his successors navigate these internal and external pressures will shape Iran’s trajectory for years to come.

Source: AP News – Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who led the Islamic Republic since 1989, is dead at 86

The post Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Dies at 86 appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

In recent nights in Tehran, residents have returned to a familiar ritual from past protest waves — shouting anti-government slogans from rooftops and balconies under cover of darkness. The calls echo through neighborhoods still shaken by the scale of the crackdown, reflecting both grief and unresolved anger.

According to accounts gathered by the Associated Press, thousands were killed and tens of thousands detained after nationwide protests were forcefully suppressed under Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who has ruled for more than three decades. Iran’s government has provided limited official figures and has characterized many protesters as “terrorists,” a description disputed by activists and families of the dead.

Commemorations turn into protests

This week marks 40 days since Jan. 8 and 9 — described by rights groups as the bloodiest days of the crackdown. In Iran, the 40th day after a death, known as the chehelom, is traditionally observed with family and community gatherings. Historically, these ceremonies have sometimes taken on political meaning during periods of unrest.

Videos circulating online and verified by the Associated Press show large crowds at cemeteries and public spaces across the country. In the western town of Abdanan, hundreds gathered at the chehelom for a 16-year-old killed in January. Footage showed mourners chanting against the leadership before security forces intervened with what appeared to be tear gas.

Similar scenes unfolded in the eastern city of Mashhad, where crowds attending another 40-day memorial were heard chanting, “For every person killed, a thousand more stand behind him.” The slogan echoes language used during the 1979 revolution, when 40-day mourning cycles helped sustain momentum against the shah.

During that period, memorials often transformed into demonstrations, prompting further clashes and additional casualties that were then commemorated in turn. The pattern appears to be resurfacing, though under far tighter security conditions.

Iran’s authorities have also organized official ceremonies for those killed, whom the Revolutionary Guard described as victims of foreign-backed armed groups that it said exploited legitimate grievances. Officials framed the commemorations as a reaffirmation of national unity.

Anger, fear and economic strain

Interviews with residents in Karaj, just west of Tehran, and other urban centers suggest a public mood shaped by a mixture of anger, exhaustion and economic hardship.

One resident who participated in January’s marches said several relatives and acquaintances were killed when security forces opened fire. “More than sad, people are angry,” he said, describing a sense of collective frustration.

The Human Rights Activists News Agency, an Iran-focused monitoring group, has reported more than 7,000 deaths and believes the toll may be higher. The Iranian government, in a statement issued Jan. 21, said 3,117 people were killed. The disparity reflects the difficulty of independently verifying casualty figures amid restricted access and communication controls.

Beyond the violence, economic pressures are compounding the sense of instability. Iran’s currency has sharply declined in value, pushing up the cost of food and other essentials. Residents describe basic purchases — including fruit — as increasingly unaffordable. With the Persian New Year approaching in March, some say markets that would normally be crowded remain subdued.

Cultural figures have also voiced grief. A prominent actor announced she would not accept new roles, citing the atmosphere of bloodshed. Alireza Ostad Haji, a referee on a popular Iranian television strongman competition, publicly resigned from athletic committees while mourning a former bodybuilding champion killed in the protests, saying he was “not a terrorist, he was a protester.”

Debate over alternatives and foreign pressure

The crackdown has prompted debate among protesters over strategy and leadership. Some demonstrators have voiced support for Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of Iran’s last shah, who has called for sustained protests and urged stronger international pressure on Tehran. During January’s unrest, chants backing him were heard more frequently than in past protest waves.

The depth of domestic support for Pahlavi remains unclear. Iran’s opposition is fragmented, and independent polling is not available. Some Iranians interviewed said they do not support a return to monarchy but see few alternatives to the current leadership.

Adding to the uncertainty are heightened tensions with the United States. Washington has deployed warships and fighter aircraft to the region while continuing negotiations with Tehran over its nuclear program. Some protesters have expressed hope that outside pressure could weaken the government, though others fear that military escalation would bring wider war and more civilian casualties.

Several residents said the scale of state violence has deterred further street mobilization. “We cannot fight anymore with our fists against machine guns,” one protester said, reflecting a sentiment of fatigue shared by others.

Yet even as open demonstrations have diminished, the nightly rooftop chants and politically charged memorials suggest that dissent has not disappeared. For many families, mourning remains inseparable from demands for accountability.

Source: AP News – Iranians grieve defiantly for thousands killed in last month’s crackdown

The post Iranians Grieve Defiantly After Deadly Crackdown appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

The updated tally from the Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) adds to mounting questions about the human cost of the unrest, even as Iran’s government has publicly cited a significantly lower figure. Communications disruptions, internet restrictions and limits on international access have made independent verification difficult, leaving outside observers reliant on activist networks and official statements that sharply diverge.

The rising death count also unfolds against a backdrop of delicate diplomacy. Tehran is engaged in intermittent negotiations with Washington over its nuclear program while regional actors, including Israel and Gulf states, watch closely for signs of escalation or compromise.

Activists report steady rise in confirmed deaths

HRANA, which is based in the United States and maintains contacts across Iran, said the slow increase in its reported death toll reflects the time required to verify individual cases amid tight information controls. The group has previously provided detailed casualty counts during earlier periods of unrest and is often cited by international media and rights organizations.

Iran’s government, in a statement issued on Jan. 21, said 3,117 people had been killed during the protests. Iranian authorities have historically provided limited or delayed casualty figures following episodes of internal unrest, and have rejected many external estimates as politically motivated.

The Associated Press and other international outlets have said they are unable to independently confirm the numbers because of restrictions on communications and reporting inside the country.

The protests, which spread across multiple cities, prompted a sweeping security response that included mass arrests and widespread efforts to curb dissent. Families of those killed are now approaching the traditional 40-day mourning period observed in Iran, a milestone that has in the past renewed public gatherings and remembrance events.

Diplomacy unfolds amid regional tensions

The internal unrest coincides with renewed diplomatic maneuvering over Iran’s nuclear program. Senior Iranian official Ali Larijani met this week in Qatar with Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, according to regional media reports. Qatar has long played a mediating role between Iran and the United States and hosts a major U.S. military base.

Larijani also held meetings in Oman and with representatives of the Palestinian group Hamas, according to regional broadcasters. Speaking to Al Jazeera, Larijani said there had been an “exchange of messages” with the United States but no formal proposal during recent contacts in Oman.

Qatar’s state news agency reported that Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump about regional de-escalation efforts and broader security concerns, without providing details.

The United States has increased its military presence in the region in recent weeks. The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, along with additional ships and aircraft, has been deployed to the Middle East. U.S. officials said forces shot down a drone that approached the carrier and assisted a U.S.-flagged vessel in the Strait of Hormuz after what they described as interference by Iranian forces.

In comments reported by Axios, Trump said he was considering sending a second carrier to the region, describing an “armada” moving into place. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he favored continued negotiations but warned of consequences if talks failed.

Concern grows over treatment of Nobel laureate

International concern has also focused on the treatment of Iranian activist Narges Mohammadi, who received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023. The Norwegian Nobel Committee said it was “deeply appalled” by what it described as credible reports of her arrest, physical abuse and ongoing mistreatment.

According to the committee, Mohammadi has been denied adequate medical care and has experienced repeated health issues while in custody, including episodes of fainting and dangerously high blood pressure. The committee called for her immediate and unconditional release.

Iranian authorities recently sentenced the 53-year-old activist to more than seven additional years in prison. Supporters had warned before her arrest that she risked being returned to prison after a medical furlough in December 2024.

Her case has drawn renewed attention to the broader climate for dissent in Iran, where activists, journalists and civil society figures have faced arrest and prosecution following the protests.

A widening gap between official and activist accounts

The divergence between official and activist casualty figures highlights the difficulty of assessing events inside Iran during periods of unrest. Rights groups say documentation takes time as they work to confirm names, locations and circumstances of deaths through local contacts.

For Iranian authorities, the unrest represents a challenge to internal stability at a time when the country is also navigating sensitive foreign policy negotiations and regional rivalries. For families of those killed, the coming days of mourning may become a renewed focus for remembrance and quiet protest.

As diplomatic efforts continue and international attention remains fixed on Tehran, the human toll reported by activists is likely to remain a central part of the conversation about Iran’s recent unrest and its broader political trajectory.

Source: AP News – Deaths in Iran’s crackdown on protests reach at least 7,000, activists say

The post Iran Protest Death Toll Reaches 7,000, Activists Say as Pressure Mounts at Home and Abroad appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

According to reporting by the Los Angeles Times and statements from Mohammadi’s supporters, the activist was arrested Friday in Mashhad while attending a memorial ceremony for a lawyer whose recent death has stirred questions among rights advocates.

The detention places renewed international attention on the Iranian government’s handling of dissent, even as officials in Tehran continue to signal interest in restarting diplomatic talks with the United States over the country’s nuclear program.

Domestic Pressure Mounts as Authorities Tighten Control

Supporters say security forces detained Mohammadi during a gathering honoring human rights lawyer Khosrow Alikordi, who was found dead in his office earlier this month under circumstances that remain disputed.

Video circulated by activists showed Mohammadi addressing a crowd without wearing the mandatory headscarf, a gesture that has become emblematic of ongoing resistance to the country’s compulsory hijab rules.

Chants referencing Majidreza Rahnavard — a protester publicly executed during the government’s crackdown on the nationwide demonstrations of 2022 — were reportedly heard during the event.

Local officials acknowledged that arrests were made but stopped short of publicly confirming Mohammadi’s detention.

Hasan Hosseini, governor of Mashhad, told Iranian state television that prosecutors ordered the temporary detention of several attendees after what he described as “norm-breaking slogans” were shouted during the ceremony.

Authorities characterized the action as a preventive measure, though activists allege security forces used violence during the arrests.

Activist Network Warns of Expanding Crackdown

Human rights groups quickly condemned the detention.

In a statement, the foundation established in Mohammadi’s name called for the “immediate and unconditional release” of all individuals detained at the memorial.

Hadi Ghaemi, executive director of the Center for Human Rights in Iran, argued that the arrests highlight an increasingly restrictive environment for civil society.

“When peaceful citizens cannot mourn without being beaten and dragged away, it reveals a government terrified of truth and accountability,” Ghaemi said.

More than 80 lawyers in Iran have reportedly signed a statement calling for greater transparency surrounding Alikordi’s death.

A Return to Custody After Medical Furlough

Mohammadi, 53, had been outside prison since December 2024 after authorities granted her a temporary medical furlough.

She had previously been serving a sentence of more than 13 years on charges related to national security and propaganda against the state.

Supporters say the activist’s health has deteriorated after years of imprisonment. She has suffered multiple heart attacks in custody and underwent emergency surgery in 2022.

Doctors overseeing her care warned earlier this year that returning her to prison could seriously worsen her condition, particularly if access to specialized treatment is limited.

Symbol of Defiance in Iran’s Protest Movement

Trained as an engineer, Mohammadi has long been one of the most prominent figures in Iran’s human rights movement.

Her activism intensified during the wave of demonstrations triggered by the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died after being detained by Iran’s morality police.

Those protests became one of the most significant challenges to Iran’s political establishment in decades.

Even while on medical leave from prison, Mohammadi continued to appear at protests and speak to international media outlets, including demonstrations outside Evin Prison, the facility where she had previously been held.

Diplomatic Calculations Enter a Sensitive Phase

The timing of Mohammadi’s detention carries potential diplomatic implications.

Iran has repeatedly signaled that it remains open to renewed negotiations with Washington regarding its nuclear program, though talks have yet to formally resume.

The arrest of a globally recognized human rights figure could complicate that diplomatic pathway, particularly as Western governments weigh the domestic political environment inside Iran.

For Tehran’s leadership, the episode reflects a broader tension: balancing internal security concerns while attempting to navigate economic pressures and international negotiations.

As the situation unfolds, Mohammadi’s detention may become another test of how Iran manages dissent during a period of geopolitical uncertainty.

The post Iran’s Arrest of Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi Signals Intensifying Crackdown on Domestic Dissent appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

As the conflict between Iran and Israel intensifies, an official from Iran’s presidential office says there’s still a way to stop the fighting—and it starts with a phone call from Washington.

“President Trump can easily stop the war with just one call to the Israelis,” said Majid Farahani, a senior Iranian presidency official, in an interview with CNN on Friday.

“Iran believes in civilian dialogue,” he added. “Whether direct or indirect—it doesn’t matter.”

Diplomatic Window Opens—but Nuclear Disputes Remain

According to Farahani, Iran is open to restarting diplomacy but insists that talks are impossible as long as Israeli airstrikes continue. One major sticking point remains Iran’s nuclear program.

Farahani confirmed that Iran has no plans to halt uranium enrichment, a process that has drawn international concern due to its potential military applications.

“Maybe it can be lower,” he said, “but we don’t stop it.”

Iran maintains its enrichment program is for peaceful purposes, even as it produces material close to weapons-grade. Meanwhile, pressure is mounting from the West. On Friday, France’s foreign ministry called for “zero enrichment” in line with the growing position among Western powers.

A Sliver of Hope for Peace Talks

Despite the rising tension, a glimmer of diplomacy appeared Friday. Foreign ministers from Iran, Britain, France, and Germany met face-to-face in Geneva—joined by the European Union’s foreign policy chief. It was the first high-level diplomatic meeting since the current conflict began.

President Trump, after issuing a series of aggressive warnings, has opted to keep a two-week window open for potential negotiations before making a final decision on military action. The move reflects divisions within the U.S. administration over how far to escalate the situation.

“If America gets involved in the war,” warned Farahani, “there are so many options—and all of those options are on the table.”

Anger in Tehran: Protests Target Israel and the U.S.

On Friday, massive protests erupted in Tehran, fueled by growing outrage over the bombing campaign. A CNN crew on the ground reported seeing crowds waving Iranian, Palestinian, and Hezbollah flags, and burning U.S. and Israeli flags.

The chants—“Death to Israel, Death to America”—echoed through the streets, a familiar refrain in Iranian state-backed demonstrations. But the emotional intensity of this protest was palpable.

“Trump, you are threatening my leader,” one woman told CNN. “Don’t you know that my nation believes death is sweeter than honey?”

What Comes Next?

As diplomacy hangs by a thread and emotions run high on both sides, the next few days will likely prove critical. The world watches closely to see whether dialogue prevails—or whether war becomes inevitable.

Source: CNN – The US can end Iran conflict with one call, official from Iran’s presidency says

The post Iran Says One Call from Trump Could Stop the War appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

By AP – Rewritten for a modern news blog audience

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has survived more than three decades of uprisings, reform movements, and international sanctions. But the 86-year-old Iranian supreme leader is now facing what may be the biggest challenge of his rule — and it’s coming not from within, but from above.

Israel’s escalating air campaign has punched holes through Iran’s defenses, targeting top military commanders and nuclear facilities with apparent impunity. And it’s gotten personal. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant recently declared that Khamenei himself “cannot continue to exist,” a direct threat aimed at the heart of the Islamic Republic.

Now Khamenei is staring down a brutal dilemma:

Does he escalate and risk even heavier Israeli strikes — or seek diplomacy that could mean walking back Iran’s prized nuclear ambitions?

In a fiery video address on Wednesday, he vowed defiance, declaring that “the Iranian nation is not one to surrender.” He also warned that if the U.S. gets involved, it will suffer “irreparable damage.”

A Revolutionary Survivor

Khamenei’s rise in 1989 wasn’t a sure thing. He was a relatively low-ranking cleric taking over from the larger-than-life founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Lacking Khomeini’s religious credentials and charisma, Khamenei’s leadership was questioned early on.

But he didn’t just survive — he remade the system in his image.

Khamenei cemented clerical rule in Iran and transformed the once-modest Revolutionary Guard into the country’s most powerful institution. The Guard now controls not just elite military units and Iran’s ballistic missiles, but also an expansive business empire that dominates much of the economy.

Crucially, he backed the Quds Force, which stitched together Iran’s “Axis of Resistance” — a network of proxies and allies stretching from Yemen to Lebanon. This alliance helped Iran wield enormous influence across the Middle East for years.

In return, the Guard and its regional partners became Khamenei’s loyal enforcers.

Crushing Dissent at Home

Khamenei’s reign has been marked by repeated waves of internal unrest — and by his willingness to crush them.

In the late ’90s and early 2000s, a reform movement gained traction, advocating for more democratic freedoms and curbing clerical power. Khamenei responded by empowering hard-line institutions to shut it down.

When protests flared again — over disputed elections in 2009, economic hardships in 2017 and 2019, and the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini in morality police custody — security forces responded with brute force. Hundreds were killed, many more were jailed, and reports of torture and sexual assault in detention centers shocked the world.

While the regime occasionally loosened social restrictions to ease tensions, the underlying grievances — authoritarian rule, corruption, and a battered economy — remain unresolved.

From Isolation to Regional Power

When Khamenei first took power, Iran was licking its wounds from an eight-year war with Iraq and was largely isolated.

But he gradually turned Iran into a regional heavyweight. A major turning point came in 2003, when the U.S. toppled Saddam Hussein, opening the door for Iran-aligned Shiite parties and militias to dominate Iraq’s new government.

That opened the floodgates. Iran’s influence spread through Lebanon’s Hezbollah, Syria’s Bashar Assad, Hamas in Gaza, and Yemen’s Houthi rebels — all forming the so-called “Axis of Resistance.” By 2015, Iran’s presence stretched across the region, with proxies positioned on Israel’s doorstep.

But That Power Is Rapidly Unraveling

The tide has turned dramatically over the past two years.

The October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on southern Israel triggered a massive Israeli counteroffensive in Gaza — one that didn’t stop there. Israel shifted from containment to destruction, making the defeat of Iran’s regional allies a top priority.

Hamas has been severely weakened. Hezbollah, long seen as untouchable, suffered surprise attacks — including a bizarre but devastating infiltration using booby-trapped walkie-talkies. In Syria, the unthinkable happened: Bashar Assad was overthrown by Sunni rebels. Damascus is now under the control of a government openly hostile to Iran and Hezbollah.

Meanwhile, Israeli air raids continue to hit targets deep inside Iran, killing key figures in the military and intelligence establishment. The skies that once symbolized Iran’s reach are now symbols of its vulnerability.

The Clock Is Ticking

Khamenei’s decades-long project — to turn Iran into a dominant, nuclear-armed regional power — is at risk of collapsing.

His next move may decide whether Iran doubles down and escalates into a broader war with Israel — potentially drawing in the United States — or whether he accepts painful concessions to avoid further devastation.

Either way, the supreme leader is facing a defining moment. And this time, slogans and crackdowns may not be enough.

Source: AP News  – Under attack from Israel, Iran’s supreme leader faces a stark choice

The post Khamenei’s Crossroads: War with Israel or a Costly Peace? appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.