Janhit: Can Iran Redefine Muslim Leadership in a Divided Ummah? | ABP NEWS

As international focus shifts to the Iran-Israel conflict, questions are rising about Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s enduring power and his growing opposition to the West. Khamenei has ruled Iran since 1989, outlasting six U.S. presidents, including both Democrats and Republicans. While Donald Trump faces criticism for his recent handling of the Iran-Israel ceasefire, Khamenei’s consistent defiance of American and Israeli influence is reshaping the Muslim world’s leadership narrative. Three nations—Iran, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia—vie for the symbolic title of the Muslim world’s Khalifa or spiritual leader. Iran, a Shia-majority Islamic Republic, positions itself as the only Muslim nation unyielding against Western powers. In contrast, Saudi Arabia, a Sunni-dominated kingdom, claims spiritual legitimacy due to its control of Mecca and Medina, the holiest Islamic sites. However, critics, including Iran, see Saudi as a Western ally, diminishing its credibility. Meanwhile, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has also attempted to reclaim Ottoman-era Islamic leadership, promoting conservative Islamic values and converting the Hagia Sophia back into a mosque in 2020. Despite his religious posturing, Turkey’s NATO membership and silence on critical Muslim issues weaken its claim. Iran stands apart through its vocal support for Palestine and resistance to American dominance. Despite decades of sanctions, it continues to champion Shia ideology while supporting anti-Western Sunni groups. This complex Shia-Sunni divide and the quest for Islamic leadership now reflect not just religious authority, but also geopolitical resistance.