Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is the Supreme Leader of Iran and the figurative head of the Muslim conservative establishment in Iran.
The biggest challenge he faced as a leader was the mass protests following the June 2009 presidential elections.
Khamenei is widely regarded as the nominal head of the country's conservative establishment. He has been described as one of the three defining influences of the revolution.
In his inaugural address as president in 1981, Ayatollah Khamenei vowed to end "deviation, liberalism, and American-influenced leftists", in a statement that set the tone for his leadership. Reformists have criticised his use of "extra-legislative power".
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has attacked Western powers who have criticised the rights record of the Islamic Republic for hypocrisy by economically oppressing people in third world countries.
Khamenei supported the persecution of Baha'ais and signed documents recommending several methods of oppression and ways of decreasing their influence.
Those believed to have insulted Khamenei have been arrested or punished on a less formal basis such as by being beaten by vigilantes.
