Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, served as the president of Iran from 1981 through 1989. After 1989, he was deemed the nation’s rahbar. His prefix, ayatollah, was an acknowledgment of his religious rank. He died on February 28, 2026, at the age of 86, following a major joint attack launched by the US and Israel.
But how did he come to power, and what was the controversy surrounding his reign? In this gallery, we outline Khamenei’s life, profiling the man who was often referenced but rarely understood.
Curious to know more about Khamenei? Click through the gallery.