Ali Khamenei

Supreme Leader of Iran from 1989 to 2026

Born: April 19, 1939  ·  Died: February 28, 2026

War & ConflictPolitics & GovernmentSocial & Human Rights
Ali Khamenei
Image via Wikimedia Commons or Wikipedia.

Overview

Born / Died

April 19, 1939 – February 28, 2026

Role

Supreme Leader of Iran from 1989 to 2026

Career

A member of the Khamenei family, he previously served as the third president of Iran from 1981 to 1989.

Legacy

He held the title Grand Ayatollah, and his tenure as supreme leader, spanning 36 years and six months, made him the longest-serving head of state in West Asia at the time of his death.

Major work

Ali Hosseini Khamenei was an Iranian politician and Shia cleric who served as the second supreme leader of Iran from 1989 until his assassination in the 2026 Iran war.

Who was Ali Khamenei?

Ali Khamenei lived from April 19, 1939 to February 28, 2026. A member of the Khamenei family, he previously served as the third president of Iran from 1981 to 1989. Ali Hosseini Khamenei was an Iranian politician and Shia cleric who served as the second supreme leader of Iran from 1989 until his assassination in the 2026 Iran war.

Ali Khamenei
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Historical significance

He held the title Grand Ayatollah, and his tenure as supreme leader, spanning 36 years and six months, made him the longest-serving head of state in West Asia at the time of his death.

Khamenei as a teenager
Khamenei as a teenager
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Use the dated article for the day-specific account; use these references to check the event record and explore its wider historical context.

Date article: Iran Helicopter Crash Kills President Raisi — May 19, 2024Wikipedia source