History of Mojtaba Khamenei in Timeline

Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei is an Iranian Shia cleric who has been the third supreme leader of Iran since March 2026. The second son of Ali Khamenei, the second supreme leader, he was a member of the Khamenei family. Before becoming supreme leader, he served as Vakil of the Office of the Supreme Leader during his father's leadership from 2008 to 2026.

Sections (1)

Full Timeline

September 1969: Mojtaba Khamenei Born

In September 1969, Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei was born.

Others born on this day/year

1979: Shift away from public backing

According to an Iran International analysis, Khamenei's election marked the completion of the Islamic Republic's shift away from public backing after abandoning it following the 1979 revolution.

1987: Joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)

Around 1987, after finishing high school, Khamenei joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) and served in the Iran–Iraq War.

1989: Began Studies in Qom to Become a Cleric

In 1989, Khamenei began his studies in Qom to become a cleric, studying under various teachers including Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi.

1989: Began Studying in Qom

In 1989, Khamenei began studying in Qom to become a cleric.

1999: Marriage to Zahra Haddad-Adel

In 1999, Khamenei married Zahra Haddad-Adel, a daughter of the ultraconservative politician and writer Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel.

2004: Began Teaching Kharij-e Fiqh

From 2004, Khamenei taught Kharij-e Fiqh (advanced jurisprudence) courses for approximately two decades in the Qom Seminary.

2005: Affiliated with Iranian president Ahmadinejad

In 2005, Khamenei was affiliated with Iranian president Ahmadinejad, and supported Ahmadinejad in the 2005 presidential elections.

2007: Birth of First Child

In 2007, Khamenei and his wife Zahra Haddad-Adel had their first child.

2008: Vakil of the Office of the Supreme Leader

In 2008, Mojtaba Khamenei served as Vakil of the Office of the Supreme Leader during his father's rule.

June 2009: Allegedly Orchestrated Crackdown Against Anti-Government Protesters

In June 2009, Khamenei was speculated to have been instrumental in orchestrating the crackdown against anti-government protesters.

2009: Protests Against Possible Succession

During the 2009 protests, protesters accused Ali Khamenei of working to facilitate Mojtaba's succession.

2009: Used the Basij to Crack Down on Protesters

During the Iranian Green Movement of 2009, Khamenei used the Basij to crack down on peaceful protesters.

2009: Took Control of the Basij Paramilitary Militia

In 2009, Khamenei took control of the Basij paramilitary volunteer militia.

2009: Assumed Leadership of the Basij

In 2009, it was reported that Khamenei had assumed leadership of the Basij, one of five branches of the IRGC.

2012: Accused of Embezzlement

In 2012, Ahmadinejad accused Khamenei of embezzling from the state treasury.

2014: Successor was deemed to have been decided

In 2014, it was reported that Ali's successor was deemed to have been decided but not disclosed publicly.

2019: Placed Under US Sanctions

In 2019, Khamenei was placed under US sanctions for acting in place of the Supreme Leader without ever being elected or appointed to any official position and for working closely with the commander of the Quds Force.

2019: Funds Linked to Network Originated from Iranian Oil Revenues

The investigations further alleged that funds linked to the network largely originated from Iranian oil revenues and were routed through financial institutions in multiple jurisdictions, despite international sanctions imposed on Mojtaba Khamenei in 2019.

February 2021: Reported Meeting with Ahmadinejad

In February 2021, Independent Persian claimed that Ahmadinejad met with Mojtaba Khamenei, who reportedly supported both his views and his candidacy in the 2021 presidential election.

2025: Successor was deemed to have been decided

In 2025, it was reported that Ali's successor was deemed to have been decided but not disclosed publicly.

2025: US Treasury Announced Millions Wires by Iranian Leaders

On 14 January 2026, during the 2025–2026 Iranian protests, US Treasury Department Secretary Scott Bessent announced that "millions and tens of millions" of dollars have been wired by Iran's leaders to financial institutions worldwide, and Israel's Channel 14 reported that $1.5 billion in cryptocurrency had been sent to an account in Dubai with the involvement of Khamenei (who alone sent approximately $328 million).

January 2026: US Treasury Announced Millions Wires by Iranian Leaders

January 2026: Linked to Offshore Financial Network

A year-long investigation by Bloomberg, reported in January 2026, linked Khamenei to an offshore financial network used to hold and move assets outside Iran, including real estate in London and Dubai.

March 2026: Unconscious and Receiving Medical Treatment

By March 2026, Khamenei had not given public lectures or political addresses. According to a report in The Times, Khamenei is unconscious and has been receiving medical treatments for a "severe" medical condition.

March 2026: Appointed the 3rd Supreme Leader of Iran

In March 2026, Mojtaba Khamenei became the 3rd Supreme Leader of Iran.

2026: Considered Likely Candidate to Replace His Father as Supreme Leader

After Israel assassinated his father in the 2026 Iran war, Khamenei was considered a likely candidate to replace him as Supreme Leader and was subsequently elected.

2026: IRGC's Increasing Influence

Despite the successive deaths of Iranian leaders during the 2026 Iran war, analysts noted the IRGC's constant activity and increasing influence within Iran's political structure under Khamenei.

2026: Elected Supreme Leader after father's assassination

In 2026, following his father's assassination during the Iran war, Khamenei was elected the third supreme leader by the Assembly of Experts. He was injured in the airstrike that killed his father.