Ayatollah Khamenei’s Hardline Response to Iran’s Unrest As violent protests continue to erupt across Iran, Ali Khamenei , the Ayatollah of the Islamic Republic, has responded with a familiar but increasingly severe message: dissent will not be tolerated. In a recent address, Khamenei warned that protesters “must be put in their place,” language that many observers interpret as a green light for intensified crackdowns by security forces. The demonstrations, fueled by deep frus