Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei, born on April 19, 1939, has been serving as the second supreme leader of Iran since 1989. He is a prominent Iranian Twelver Shia marja' and politician who previously served as the third president of Iran from 1981 to 1989.

Ali Khamenei was born on July 15, 1939 in Mashhad, Iran.

Ayatollah Khamenei, the current Leader of Islamic Iran, was born on July 16, 1939, in Mashhad, Iran. He was raised in a humble family by his father, an Islamic scholar, who instilled in him the values of simplicity and humility.

Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader of Iran and a Telver Shi’a marja, was born on July 17, 1939.

At the age of four, Ayatollah Khamenei started his education by attending a traditional primary school to learn the alphabet and the Holy Quran. Later, he continued his studies at a newly established Islamic school.

After completing his primary schooling, Sayyed Ali pursued his studies at the theological seminary in Mashhad. He was encouraged by his parents, especially his father, to make this decision.

Ali Khamenei settled in Qom in 1958 to attend classes of prominent mentors like Seyyed Hossein Borujerdi and Ruhollah Khomeini, marking the beginning of his advanced seminary studies.

In 1962, he started participating in protests against the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, along with Ayatollah Khomeini.

In January 1964, Ayatollah Khamenei and his friends traveled to Kirman and Zahedan to reveal the Shah's fake referendum. Through public speeches, he criticized the American policies of the Pahlavi regime, leading to his arrest by SAVAK and two months of torture.

In 1967, Ayatollah Khamenei was forced to go underground after being arrested for conducting lessons on the Quran, Prophetic Traditions, and Islamic ideology. Despite SAVAK's surveillance, he continued to educate the Iranian youth, facing repeated arrests.

In December 1974, Hojatoleslam Khamenei was arrested at his home by SAVAK, the secret police of the Shah of Iran, and taken to the joint committee prison of the police department in Tehran. He was later released in autumn 1975 but faced restrictions on holding public classes.

In the winter of 1976, Ayatollah Khamenei was apprehended by SAVAK and sentenced to three years of exile due to his clandestine activities. He endured this difficult period until the latter part of 1978.

In 1977, Hojatoleslam Khamenei, along with clerics from Qom and Tehran, founded the Jame'ye Rouhaniyat Mobarez (Combatant Clerics Association), which later served as the foundation for the Islamic Republic Party.

In the latter part of 1978, Ayatollah Khamenei returned to Mashhad a few months before the triumph of the Islamic revolution. He resumed his political-religious activities during a period of civil unrest and mass demonstrations in Iran.

Since April 14, 1979, Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei has been serving as the head of the servants of Astan Quds Razavi. This appointment showcases his longstanding involvement in various leadership roles within Iran.

In 1980, Ayatollah Khomeini appointed Hojatoleslam Khamenei as the leader of the Friday congregational prayers in Tehran, a role that further solidified his influence within the Islamic Republic.

Ali Khamenei narrowly escaped an assassination attempt by the Mujahedin-e Khalq when a bomb concealed in a tape recorder exploded beside him, causing serious injuries to his right arm, vocal cords, and lungs.

In 1982, Ali Khamenei served as the Chairman of the High Council of Revolution Culture Affairs, a significant government post in Iran responsible for overseeing cultural policies during the post-revolution period.

During the presidency of Hassan Rouhani, amid rumors of Khamenei's declining health, it was recommended to Khamenei to reestablish the office of deputy supreme leader to transition towards new leadership better.

Ayatollah Khamenei took on the role of President of the Expediency Council in 1986.

Ayatollah Hussein-Ali Montazeri was dismissed from his role as Vice Supreme Leader.

Khomeini wrote a letter to the Assembly for Revising the Constitution in April 1989, making arrangements to designate Ali Khamene'i as his successor. This letter led to the necessary revisions in the constitution, allowing Khamene'i to assume the role of Supreme Leader.

On June 4, 1989, at the age of 50, Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei was elected as the next supreme leader of Iran by the Assembly of Experts. This came after the death of the first supreme leader, Ruhollah Khomeini, and a disagreement over his chosen successor.

A referendum in July 1989 officially confirmed the election of the Supreme Leader. Subsequently, a group of religious leaders also endorsed his position as the supreme leader.

Ali Khamenei was reconfirmed as the Supreme Leader of Iran after the constitution was amended to remove the requirement for being a marja'. The Assembly of Experts reconvened and Khamenei received 60 out of 64 votes.

Ayatollah Khamenei took on the role of Chairman of the Committee for Revision of the Constitution in 1990.

In 1996, Khamenei issued a fatwa stating that music education corrupts young minds, resulting in the closure of many music schools and banning music instruction to children under 16 by public establishments.

In 1999, Ayatollah Khamenei issued a fatwa allowing the use of third-party donors in fertility treatments, such as donor sperm, ova, or surrogacy, which differed from a previous fatwa by Gad El-Hak Ali Gad El-Hak of Egypt's Al-Azhar University.

In December 2000, Khamenei referred to Israel as a 'cancerous tumor of a state' that he believed should be removed from the region, showcasing his strong opposition to the State of Israel and Zionism.

In 2002, Ayatollah Khamenei intervened in the case of Hashem Aghajari, a scholar sentenced to death for advocating re-interpretation of Islam. Khamenei ordered a review of the sentence, which was later reduced to a prison term.

In 2003, Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei issued a fatwa forbidding the production, stockpiling, and use of all kinds of weapons of mass destruction in Iran. This fatwa has significant implications for Iran's nuclear program.

In 2004, Ali Khamenei's Guardian Council disqualified thousands of parliamentary candidates for the Iranian legislative election.

In August 2005, Ali Khamenei issued a fatwa forbidding the production, stockpiling, and use of nuclear weapons under Islam. This fatwa has been widely discussed internationally and has influenced Iran's nuclear policy.

On April 30, 2008, Ali Khamenei supported President Ahmadinejad's economic strategy, highlighting the economic challenges faced by the West and emphasizing the need for Iranians to be content and avoid wastefulness.

In 2010, Forbes included Ali Khamenei in the list of 'World’s Most Powerful People'.

On May 8, 2011, Ahmadinejad welcomed back Heydar Moslehi to a cabinet meeting after initially declining to officially back his reinstatement. This event marked a significant moment in the power struggle between Ahmadinejad and the supreme leader.

In February 2012, Ali Khamenei issued a statement declaring Iran's support for any nation or group that opposes Israel, indicating Iran's stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

On March 21, 2013, Khamenei issued a threat towards Tel Aviv and Haifa during a televised speech, warning that any military invasion by Israel would result in the destruction of these cities by the Islamic Republic.

The nuclear deal signed by the world’s six major powers and Iran in July 2015, aimed at limiting Iran's nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. However, Khamenei's suspicions of the United States complicated the verification process.

On September 10, 2015, Khamenei made a bold statement predicting that Israel would not exist in 25 years, marking a significant declaration regarding the future of the state.

On October 21, 2015, Ayatollah Khamenei conditionally approves the nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers that was signed in July. This approval marked a significant step in the implementation of the agreement.

On February 7, 2017, Khamenei addressed a gathering of Iran's air force commanders in Tehran, expressing gratitude towards US President Donald Trump for revealing what he perceived as the true face of the US government.

On January 9, 2018, Khamenei delivered a speech on the anniversary of the Iranian revolution that started in 1978. He acknowledged Iranians' right to protest while also attributing the recent civil unrest to the United States and Israel.

Khamenei declares that Iran will not engage in war or negotiations with the United States in response to the reimposition of sanctions after the US withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal. This statement contradicts President Hassan Rouhani's willingness to hold talks with the US.

On June 24, 2019, the United States imposed sanctions on Khamenei through Executive Order 13876.

On January 17, 2020, Khamenei led Friday prayers in Tehran for the first time in eight years. During his sermon, he referred to US officials as 'American clowns' in a defiant manner.

Following the apparent assassination of Iran's top nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh on November 28, 2020, Khamenei vowed revenge for his killing. Iran accused Israel of the attack, attributing it to the Mossad, Israel's foreign intelligence agency.

On January 8, 2021, Ayatollah Khamenei prohibited the import of Covid-19 vaccines from the United States and Britain to Iran, labeling them as untrustworthy. This decision was announced during a televised address.

On June 25, 2021, Iran state television reported that Khamenei received his first dose of the Iranian-developed Covid-19 vaccine, CovIran Barekat. The vaccine was approved for use mid-June, as per Iranian authorities.

On March 1, 2022, during a televised speech, Khamenei accused the US of causing the conflict in Ukraine, likening the US government to a 'mafia-like regime'.

In October 2023, Khamenei praised the Hamas attack on Israel, denied Iran's involvement, condemned Israel's bombing of the Gaza Strip, and accused Israel of committing genocide against the Palestinian people in Gaza.