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Ali Khamenei

Iranian Supreme Leader and politician

Ali Khamenei, born in 1939, has been the Supreme Leader of Iran since 1989. He served as the third president of Iran from 1981 to 1989. Khamenei is the most powerful political authority in Iran, controlling various branches of government and the military. He has faced protests and criticism during his reign, and has issued a fatwa against weapons of mass destruction.

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Timeline

Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei becomes the Supreme Leader of Iran

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 Born

Ali Khamenei, an Iranian cleric and politician, was born on July 15, 1939 in Mashhad, Iran. He later became a significant religious figure addressed with the honorific ayatollah.

Birth of Ayatollah Khamenei

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.

Birth of Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei

Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was born on July 17, 1939, in Mashhad, Iran. He is the current Supreme Leader of Iran.

Sayyed Ali's Studies at the Theological Seminary in Mashhad

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.

Involvement in Protests Against Shah of Iran

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

Exposing Shah's Phony Referendum

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.

Arrest of Hojatoleslam Khamenei by SAVAK

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.

Arrest and Exile of Ayatollah Khamenei by SAVAK

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.

Establishment of Combatant Clerics Association

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.

Return of Ayatollah Khamenei to Mashhad

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.

Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei appointed as head of the servants of Astan Quds Razavi

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.

Appointment as Leader of Friday Prayers in Tehran

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.

Assassination Attempt on Ali Khamenei

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.

Elected President of the Islamic Republic of Iran

Ayatollah Khamenei became the President of Iran after the assassination of President Mohammad Ali Rajai. He also survived an assassination attempt himself.

President of the Expediency Council

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

Khomeini's Letter Designating Khamene'i as Successor

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.

Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei elected as the Supreme Leader of Iran

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.

Confirmation of Supreme Leader Election

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.

Reconfirmation of Ali Khamenei as 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.

Khamenei's statement on Israel as a 'cancerous tumor of a state'

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.

Khamenei's Intervention in Hashem Aghajari's Case

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.

Fatwa issued by Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei on Iran's nuclear program

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.

Khamenei's Fatwa Against Nuclear Weapons

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.

Khamenei Backing Ahmadinejad's Economic 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.

Forbes Listing of Khamenei

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

Ahmadinejad's Reinstatement of Heydar Moslehi

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.

Support for Anti-Israeli Groups

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.

Khamenei threatens Tel Aviv and Haifa

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.

Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (Iran Deal)

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.

Khamenei's prediction of Israel's non-existence in 25 years

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.

Khamenei approves nuclear deal

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.

Khamenei's Speech to Iran's Air Force Commanders

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.

Khamenei's Speech on Iranian Revolution Anniversary

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's Speech on US-Iran Relations

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.

Khamenei leads Friday prayers in Tehran

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.

Khamenei vows revenge for Mohsen Fakhrizadeh's assassination

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.

Khamenei bans import of Covid-19 vaccines from US and Britain

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.

Khamenei receives first dose of CovIran Barekat vaccine

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.

Khamenei accuses US of causing conflict in Ukraine

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'.

Khamenei's response to Hamas attack on Israel

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.

End of the Timeline
Ali Khamenei

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