A part of media in Iran that one can't pass over is its government. The news media was a relatively free press before the presidential election of 2009. With the election of an ultra-conservative president, the government has become more involved in the news media.
The government official with the highest reigning power is the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He has the power to appoint the head of the judiciary, military leaders, Friday prayer leaders, six members of the 12-member Guardian Council and the head of radio and TV.
Ayatollah Khamenei was appointed Supreme Leader for life in June 1989, ten years after the Iranian Revolution. He has come to defend the conservatives on several occasions including the controversial presidential election of 2009; a disputed election that initiated mass protests.
Beneath the Supreme Leader is the President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. President Ahmadinejad is an ultra-conservative whose outspoken style has the international community uneasy.
