Ali Khamenei, Iran's Hard-Line Authoritarian Supreme Leader, Dead At 86
- By Kian Sharifi,
- RFE/RL's Radio Farda,
- Reuters and
- AFP
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ruled Iran for decades. His supporters saw him as a pious and wise leader, his critics as an uncompromising authoritarian who led the Islamic republic into further international isolation. His latter years as supreme leader were marred by mass protests and a brutal crackdown that left thousands of demonstrators dead.