Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is the current Supreme Leader of Iran, a position he has held since 1989 following the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. As Supreme Leader, he is the highest-ranking political and religious authority in the country, wielding considerable influence over Iran's domestic and foreign policies, as well as its military and judicial systems. He is a controversial figure, revered by some as a symbol of Iranian independence and resistance against Western influence, while criticized by others for his authoritarian rule and human rights record.