Islamic revolutionary to Iran's supreme leader, Ali Khamenei's hardline stance includes backing terror groups, crushing dissent with an iron fist and ruling through fear and repression.

After the shah was overthrown in the 1979 revolution, Iran became an Islamic republic. Khamenei was appointed as a member of the Islamic Revolutionary Council, which was put in place to manage the revolution, and served as deputy defence minister and led Friday prayers in Tehran, which was considered highly prestigious.