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Who are Iran's leaders?

Iran is an Islamic Republic, meaning its leaders are both religious and political figures. The Supreme Leader, currently Ali Khamenei, holds ultimate authority, while the President, Ebrahim Raisi, handles day-to-day governance. Trump's anger stems from their refusal to back his war, highlighting the deep ideological differences between the US and Iran.

Stories that explain this

Trump tells NATO allies he wants loyalty, not money

Questions this opens up

What is a Supreme Leader? Who is Ebrahim Raisi? What is an Islamic Republic?

Related explainers

What is the Iran war? What is Article 5? What does Article 5 mean? Who benefits from transactions? What is collective defence? Which countries joined NATO recently? Who decides sanctions? Who decides to invoke it?

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