Farnaz Fassihi

Mr. Khamenei is the second supreme leader of Iran.

The first was founding supreme leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khamenei.

He came to power in 1979 after the Islamic revolution that toppled the monarchy.

Mr. Khamenei succeeded him in 1989.

And it is said that while the first supreme leader led a revolution, Mr. Khamenei led a state.

He really is the ruler who made sure that the Islamic Republic went from a revolutionary idea into a state that entrenched power.

The Islamic Republic of Iran that we know today that has influence over proxy militant groups and, you know, has a nuclear power and missile and military power was all the vision of Mr. Khamenei.

Not only was he the religious leader of Shias around the world, but his Iran would also be this country that led anti-imperialism, anti-Americanism.

Exactly.

Exactly.

In one of his notorious quotes, he said, the reason Hamas now has rockets and can attack Israel is because of us.

We enabled them to go from rocks and arrows to missiles and guns with our training and with our funding.

And of course, the thing that he is known for is his role in domestic repression.

Mr. Khamenei had absolute power.

He is known for never giving an inch to calls for reform.

Sidelining political opponents,

This government won't allow us to say what we want.

Jailing, dissidents.

calling for brutal and lethal crackdowns on protesters.

These are some of the most recent images coming out of Iran.