Ali Khamenei
19 April 1939 – 28 February 2026
Ali Khamenei is an Iranian cleric and politician who has served as Supreme Leader of Iran since 1989. Trained in the seminaries of Mashhad and Qom, he was active in the opposition to the Pahlavi monarchy and held senior positions after the 1979 revolution, including Friday prayer leader of Tehran. He was President of Iran from 1981 to 1989 before being appointed Supreme Leader following the death of Ruhollah Khomeini.
Lived at the same time
Well-documented people whose lives overlapped with Ali Khamenei.
- Ada Yonath (1939–2026) Overlapped 87 years →
- Adonis (1930–present) Overlapped 87 years →
- Arvo Pärt (1935–present) Overlapped 87 years →
- Asha Bhosle (1933–2026) Overlapped 87 years →
- Buzz Aldrin (1930–present) Overlapped 87 years →
- C. N. R. Rao (1934–present) Overlapped 87 years →
Life events
Born into a clerical family; his father was a Shia cleric.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgBegan formal seminary education in his home city as a teenager.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAttended classes taught by senior clerics including Ruhollah Khomeini.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgHe was imprisoned on several occasions and spent a period in internal exile in Iranshahr.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgTook a leading role in state institutions formed after the 1979 revolution.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgThe post carried significant political prominence in the new republic.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgAn explosion at a mosque left him with lasting damage to his right arm.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgHe held the presidency for two terms, through the Iran-Iraq War and until 1989.
Source: en.wikipedia.orgHe succeeded Ruhollah Khomeini, who had died the previous day.
Source: en.wikipedia.org