Biography of Ayatollah Khamenei | Age, Wife, Children, and Family Details.

Biography of Ayatollah Khamenei | Introduction 

Ayatollah Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei is the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, one of the highest-ranking figures in the Shia Muslim world, and a central political authority in Iran since the 1980s. Revered as a religious scholar and political leader, Ayatollah Khamenei succeeded Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989 and has since played a pivotal role in shaping Iran’s domestic and foreign policies.

Early Life and Background

Short Biography of Ayatollah Khamenei

• Full Name: Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei

• Ali Khamenei’s father: Ayatollah Seyyed Javad Khamenei.

• Ali Khamenei’s wife: Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh

• Date of Birth: July 17, 1939
• Ali Khamenei age: 86 Years old. (as of 2025)

• Place of Birth: Mashhad, Iran

• Nationality: Iranian

• Father: Ayatollah Seyyed Javad Khamenei (a respected scholar from Najaf)

• Religion: Islam (Twelver Shia)

• Education: Advanced Islamic Studies (Hawza); studied in Mashhad, Najaf, and Qom under prominent scholars like Ayatollah Khomeini

• Profession: Supreme Leader of Iran, Islamic Scholar, Political Leader

• Born: Mashhad, Iran

• Eye Color: Brown

• Hair Color: Black (now grey/white)

• Zodiac Sign: Cancer

• Awards: No publicly listed awards; holds the highest leadership position in Iran

• Religion: Islam (Twelver Shia)

• Hobbies: Reading, poetry, literary analysis, traditional Iranian music

• Marital Status: Married

• Children: 6 (4 sons, 2 daughters)

• Height: Approx. 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)

• Nationality: Iranian

• Hometown: Mashhad, Iran

• Founder of: Not a founder, but a successor to Imam Khomeini in leading the Islamic Republic

• Channel: Frequently appears on Iranian state TV (IRIB) and official platforms like Khamenei.ir

• Other Activities: Speeches on politics and religion, religious sermons, supervision of major institutions, writing, and guiding Iran’s domestic and foreign policy.

Born into a religious and scholarly family, Khamenei grew up in an environment of piety and traditional Islamic learning. His lineage traces back to the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) through his father’s side, giving him the honorific title “Sayyid.”

Religious Education

From an early age, Ayatollah Khamenei pursued Islamic studies. He began his education in Mashhad and later continued his advanced studies in Najaf and Qom, the two primary centers of Shia Islamic learning.

His notable teachers included:

• Grand Ayatollah Borujerdi

• Imam Ruhollah Khomeini

• Allama Tabataba’i

He studied a wide range of Islamic sciences including Fiqh (jurisprudence), Usul al-Fiqh (principles of jurisprudence), Tafsir (Quranic interpretation), Philosophy, and Hadith.

Political Activism Before the Revolution

During the 1960s and 70s, Khamenei became increasingly involved in political activism against the Shah of Iran, Mohammad Reza Pahlavi. He was closely associated with Imam Khomeini’s revolutionary movement.

His political activities led to:

• Multiple arrests by SAVAK (the Shah’s intelligence agency)

• Exile and imprisonment

• Surveillance and censorship

Despite these setbacks, Khamenei continued to preach against the regime and call for Islamic governance, drawing influence from Islamic thought and anti-colonial sentiments.

Role in the Islamic Revolution (1979)

Khamenei played a significant role in mobilizing public opinion during the 1979 Islamic Revolution. After the overthrow of the Shah, he assumed various leadership and administrative roles within the newly formed Islamic Republic of Iran.

Key Positions Held

• Friday Prayer Leader of Tehran (appointed in 1980 by Imam Khomeini)

• Member of the Supreme Defense Council

• Representative of the Supreme Leader in the Armed Forces

• President of Iran (1981–1989)

• Supreme Leader of Iran (1989–Present)

Presidency (1981–1989)

Khamenei became President after the assassination of President Mohammad-Ali Rajai. As President, he worked closely with Prime Minister Mir-Hossein Mousavi, especially during the Iran-Iraq War (1980–1988).

Key features of his presidency:

• Promoted Islamic values in governance

• Oversaw war-time policies

• Supported self-reliance and resistance to Western influence

Becoming Supreme Leader (1989)

After the death of Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989, Ayatollah Khamenei was elected by the Assembly of Experts to serve as the next Supreme Leader. This position is the highest in Iran, giving him control over the military, judiciary, media, and religious institutions.

Leadership Style and Policies

Ayatollah Khamenei’s leadership is marked by:

• Strong Anti-Western Sentiment, particularly against U.S. and Israeli policies

• Promotion of “Resistance Economy” – a doctrine of economic self-sufficiency

• Support for Axis of Resistance: Hezbollah (Lebanon), Hamas (Palestine), and Shia groups in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen

• Advocacy of Wilayat al-Faqih (Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist) as the foundation of Islamic governance

• Emphasis on Islamic unity and anti-sectarianism

Works and Writings

Ayatollah Khamenei has authored several books and articles, including:

• Tafsir of the Qur’an

• Essays on Islamic Government and Leadership

• Speeches on Politics, Culture, and Society

• Poetry and Literary Criticism (he is also known as a literary scholar and translator)

Languages

• Native language: Persian

• Fluent in Arabic

• Knowledge of Azeri Turkish and some English

• Translated works of Sayyid Qutb and others into Persian

Personal Life

• Marital Status: Married

• Children: 6 (4 sons, 2 daughters)

• Hobbies: Reading, poetry, literary analysis, traditional Iranian music

• Height: Approx. 5 ft 10 in

• Eye Color: Brown

• Hair Color: White/Grey (in older age)

• Zodiac Sign: Cancer

Legacy and Influence

As Supreme Leader for over three decades, Ayatollah Khamenei has:

• Maintained ideological continuity with the Islamic Revolution

• Survived domestic protests, sanctions, and international pressures

• Played a central role in shaping the Shia crescent in the Middle East

• Built Iran into a regional power with significant geopolitical influence

He is revered by his supporters as a symbol of Islamic resistance, while critics challenge his hardline policies and suppression of dissent.

Conclusion

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei remains one of the most powerful and influential figures in the Islamic world today. His leadership has defined Iran’s path since the late 1980s, blending religious authority with political strategy, and continuing the revolutionary ideals set forth by Ayatollah Khomeini. Whether celebrated or criticized, his role in shaping modern Middle Eastern history is undeniable.

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Islamic Scholars Biography