Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the charismatic leader of Iran's 1979 revolution, became the country's first Supreme Leader and remained the nation's highest religious and political authority until his death in 1989. Khomeini, an ardent believer in Shia Islam and an advocate for Islamic governance, instilled the principles of "Velayat-e Faqih" or "Guardianship of the Jurist" in Iran's constitution, giving the supreme leader ultimate decision-making power in all matters of state. His vision of Iran as an Islamic republic deeply influenced Iranian society, foreign policy, and the broader Middle Eastern region, shaping the country's political landscape for decades to come.
