Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, born in 1939, is the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, a position he took over in 1989 following the death of his predecessor, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. A top-ranking cleric, he was initially Iran's President for two terms before becoming the Supreme Leader. Known for his staunch conservatism and distrust of Western influences, Khamenei is the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East and has the highest authority within Iran's political system where he has significant influence over all major state decisions. He is ultimately responsible for Iran’s military and its nuclear policy, and his positions on these topics have often led to tensions with Western nations.