Shortly after the crisis, Khamenei was fortunate to survive an assassination attempt. His lungs took months to recover, and he permanently lost the use of his right arm. Later that year, President Mohammad-Ali Rajai was assassinated and Khamenei stood in the ensuing election to succeed him in the largely ceremonial role. Khamenei won with 97% of the vote. His inaugural address set the tone for his presidency, with him condemning “deviation, liberalism, and American-influenced leftists".

Source: The Star March 01, 2026 14:44 UTC