Mr Khalkhali was not put off by the opposition of Abolhassan Bani-Sadr, the new president, or by the solid granite of the vault itself.

ECONOMIST: Sadeq Khalkhali

As the executions continued, Mr Bani-Sadr eventually forced him to resign.

ECONOMIST: Sadeq Khalkhali

During Mr Bani-Sadr's impeachment the next year, he stood on the parliament balcony and, as the crowd roared for the president to be hanged, put his chubby fingers puckishly round his own neck.

ECONOMIST: Sadeq Khalkhali