Who are the Supreme Leaders?
Israel vs Iran: The Importance of Top Leaders in the Middle East's Struggle for Power.
The strain between Israel and Iran has been a key issue in the politics of the Middle East. But aside from missiles, nuclear worries, and indirect conflicts, the fundamental disagreement between their top leaders—both politically and religiously—forms the core of this competition.
🛑 Who are the Supreme Leaders?
Iran: The top leader of Iran, presently Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, holds the most power in the nation—both in terms of faith and governance. He commands the armed forces, the courts, and key international policy choices.
Israel: Although Israel lacks a "top leader" with religious-political authority, its governance alternates between its Prime Minister (presently Benjamin Netanyahu) and President (a mostly symbolic position). Despite this, the top religious authority and influential military-political figures significantly sway the country's decisions, particularly in matters of safety.
🔥 Why the Conflict?
1. Ideological Opposition
Iran’s religious government rejects Israel’s existence, calling it a “Zionist government”. The Iranian authorities view Israel as an unlawful ruler of Palestinian territory.
2. Religious Politics
Iran’s top leader supports spreading Shia Islamic revolution globally—Israel advocates for a Jewish democratic nation. This faith gap intensifies greater suspicion.
3. Proxy Warfare
Both nations engage indirectly:
Iran supports Hezbollah (Lebanon), Hamas (Gaza), and armed groups in Syria and Iraq.
Israel attacks Iran's military in Syria and employs spy activities to curb Iran's regional sway.
🚀 The Nuclear Threat
Iran’s atomic energy project is possibly the most concerning problem. Iran says it's for non-violent power generation, but Israel worries about a time when an aggressive government might have atomic bombs. 1. Supreme Leader Khamenei has issued religious decrees (fatwas) against nuclear weapons, but Israel remains doubtful.
🌐 Impact on the World
This rivalry affects:
Global oil prices
U.S. foreign policy
Arab-Israeli relations (with countries like UAE and Saudi Arabia increasingly siding with Israel)
Cybersecurity, with both sides accused of launching cyber attacks on each other.