Profile
Ali Khamenei (1939–2026)
Iran's supreme leader for more than three decades
Born in the holy city of Mashhad, Khamenei trained as a Shia cleric and became a close follower of Ayatollah Khomeini, spending years in and out of prison under the Shah. After the 1979 revolution he rose quickly, serving as Iran's president from 1981 to 1989.
When Khomeini died in 1989, Khamenei succeeded him as supreme leader, holding final say over the armed forces, the courts and the country's nuclear policy. He led Iran through decades of tension with the West and faced major waves of protest at home. His rule ended on 28 February 2026, when he was killed in Israeli airstrikes on Tehran, making him one of the longest-serving leaders in the Middle East.
Career highlights
- 1939Born in Mashhad
- 1963Arrested: for opposition to the Shah
- 1979Islamic Revolution: becomes a key figure in the new republic
- 1981Survives assassination attempt: and is elected president
- 1989Becomes Supreme Leader: after Khomeini's death
- 2009Disputed election protests: the Green Movement
- 2015Nuclear deal: Iran signs agreement with world powers
- 2026Dies: in February
Did you know?He was a keen reader of Western novels and once called Victor Hugo's Les Misérables the greatest novel ever written.
