Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei was the former Supreme Leader of Iran. He was born on July 17, 1939, in Mashhad, Iran, and died on February 28, 2026. Khamenei studied under the future Ayatollah Khomeini at the Islamic seminary in Qom, Iran, and became involved in protests against the Shah of Iran in 1962.
Early Life and Career
Khamenei was married in 1964 and had six children. He was injured in 1981 when a bomb exploded at a press conference. Khamenei served as President of Iran from 1981 to 1989 and was provisionally elected as the Supreme Leader of Iran in 1989 after the death of Khomeini.
Leadership and Policies
During his leadership, Khamenei was known for his anti-Israel and anti-US stance. He issued a statement in 2012 that Iran would back any nation or group fighting against Israel. Khamenei also welcomed US President Barack Obama’s comment that it was in the best interest of the US, Israel, and the world to peacefully resolve Iran’s nuclear crisis.
In 2015, Khamenei conditionally approved the nuclear deal signed between Iran and six world powers. He also published an open letter to Western youths, asking them not to judge Islam based on the Charlie Hebdo terror attacks.
Later Life and Death
Khamenei’s Facebook and Instagram accounts were removed in 2024 for repeatedly violating Meta’s policies. He received his first dose of the Iranian-developed Covid-19 vaccine in 2021. Khamenei died on February 28, 2026, and his death was confirmed by Iranian state media outlets.
Original reporting: KRDO (Colorado Springs metro) — read the source article.
