Iranian explanations for the animosity with the United States include “the natural and unavoidable conflict between the Islamic system” and “such an oppressive power as the United States, which is trying to establish a global dictatorship and further its own interests by dominating other nations and trampling on their ...

however, indicates that the PLO presence in Iran is relatively limited. The Khomeini regime appears to have made a deter- mined effort to keep the PLO presence small in order to prevent the Palestinians from playing a significant role in Iran's internal affairs.

The current supreme leader Ali Khamenei, ruling Iran for more than three decades, has issued decrees and made final decisions on economy, education, environment, foreign policy, national planning, and almost everything else in the country.