The Next Supreme Leader. Succession in the Islamic Republic of Iran. RAND National Defense Research Institute, 2011

As the commander in chief and highest political authority in Iran, the current Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has played a critical role in the direction of the Islamic Republic of Iran. This has never been more true than during the tumultuous 2009 presidential elections, the outcome of which was determined by Khamenei’s decisive support of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.