Hero Or Scoundrel? Putting Iran's Ali Khamenei To Rest (S01E101)

badlands podcast by borzou daragahi · Jul 6, 2026 · 21m

Monday, July 6, 2026, Paris

Millions of people are taking part in ceremonies marking the Feb. 28 death of Iran’s former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, a confounding historical figure who ruled Iran for 37 years.

I wrote extensively about Khamenei in an article some years ago. But he remains something of an enigma. In this edition of badlands, I talk a bit about Khamenei and his legacy. In the end, he was granted a heroic death that will likely made him more warmly remembered—despite his many mistakes and the wrong turns he took throughout his reign.

I also speak about the funeral procession in…