On February 28, 2026, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had led Iran since 1989, was killed in a joint strike by the USA and Israel on Tehran.
Ali Khamenei was a prominent Iranian politician and religious leader who became the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic more than three decades ago.
Childhood and Education
Born on April 19, 1939, in Mashhad to a family deeply connected to religion, Khamenei began his studies at a Shia school at the age of 13. He later continued his education in centers such as Qom and Najaf under the guidance of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. From the early 1960s, he actively participated in the struggle against the Shah's regime, repeatedly facing arrests by the secret police SAVAK.
Rise to Power
During the Islamic Revolution of 1978-1979, Khamenei became a member of the Revolutionary Council, participated in the establishment of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, and became the Imam of Friday prayers in Tehran. In 1981, he survived an assassination attempt, after which he suffered paralysis in his right arm. That same year, he was elected President of Iran, receiving 95% of the votes, and held this position until 1989 during the Iran-Iraq War.
Role of Supreme Leader
After Khomeini's death in 1989, Khamenei was elected Supreme Leader by the Assembly of Experts. Constitutional amendments granted him significant influence over the military, judiciary, state media, and security forces. In 1994, he was elevated to the title of Grand Ayatollah and became one of the leading Shia marja, possessing the highest authority in matters of religious imitation.
Maintaining a conservative Islamic ideology, Khamenei advocated for the support of the theocratic system of "velayat-e faqih" and promoted the development of nuclear energy while rejecting nuclear weapons.
On the international stage, he sharply criticized the USA, calling it a "symbol of tyranny," and referred to Israel as an "occupying regime," providing support to groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas.
Under his leadership, Iran strengthened its influence in the region despite sanctions; from 2024 to 2026, the conflict escalated, including missile exchanges with Israel and strikes by the USA.
Domestically, Khamenei harshly suppressed opposition, including the protests of 2009 and the unrest of 2022 triggered by the death of Mahsa Amini.
Personal Life and Legacy
Since 1964, Khamenei had been married to Mansoureh Hojjasteh Bagherzadeh and raised six children, among whom his son Mojtaba is considered a potential successor.
In public life, he emphasized asceticism and simplicity, combining the roles of spiritual authority, head of state, and symbol of the Islamic Revolution.
Death
On February 28, 2026, as a result of the strike by the USA and Israel on Tehran, Khamenei was killed while in the company of his daughter and son-in-law. The temporary management of the country after his death was transferred to a council that included President Masoud Pezeshkian, the head of the judiciary, and one of the members of the Guardian Council of the Constitution.
