On February 28, Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed by an Israeli airstrike. From September-November 2025, Arab Barometer conducted nationally representative surveys in seven Middle East and North African countries, which included questions about support Khamenei’s foreign policy toward the Arab region.
In no country did a majority describe them as good or very good. However, in many countries a substantial percentage have a positive view of Khamenei’s approach to foreign affairs. This level is highest in Tunisia at 49 percent followed by Iraq at 48 percent. In Iraq, support is divided along sectarian lines with those who self-identify as Shia being nearly 50 points more favorable than those who self-describe themselves as Sunnis. Support in most other countries surveyed is somewhat lower, but even in predominately Sunni countries like Palestine (36 percent) and Morocco (35 percent), more than a third say his policies are good or very good followed by 29 percent in Lebanon and 19 percent in Jordan. Syria is the clear exception at three percent, which is likely linked to Khamenei’s strong support for the regime of Bashar al-Assad, the country’s former dictator.
Across surveyed MENA countries, support for Khamenei likely derives from his strong stated support for the Palestinian cause, particularly during the war in Gaza, as opposed to support for Iran’s proxies in countries throughout the Middle East.
