Mojtaba Hosseini Khamenei is born in Mashhad, the second child of Ali Khamenei and Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh.
Khamenei (second from left) with his three brothers, from left to right: Mostafa Khamenei, Masoud Khamenei, and Meysam
During childhood, he spends about seven years in Sardasht, West Azerbaijan and Mahabad, where he receives his early education.
After finishing high school at age 17, he joins the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and serves with the Habib bin Muzahir Battalion.
He participates in several Iran–Iraq War operations, including Operation Beit ol-Moqaddas 2, Operation Dawn 10, and Operation Mersad.
He begins studies in Qom to become a cleric, studying under teachers that include Mohammad-Taqi Mesbah-Yazdi, Lotfollah Safi Golpaygani, and Mohammad Bagher Kharazi.
He marries Zahra Haddad-Adel, daughter of Gholam-Ali Haddad-Adel.
He continues studies in Qom to become a cleric and later joins the Qom Seminary as a theological teacher.
He begins teaching Kharij-e Fiqh (advanced jurisprudence) courses, later described as among the most attended advanced seminary classes.
He is reported to have supported Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the 2005 Iranian presidential election.
In the context of the contested 2009 Iranian presidential election, reformist critics and journalists accuse him of playing a significant role in support of Ahmadinejad and in the crackdown on protests; protesters chant slogans opposing any succession by him.
It is reported that he assumes leadership of the Basij, a paramilitary volunteer militia within the IRGC; reformist critics blame him for suppressing the 2009–2010 Iranian election protests.
The Guardian reports skepticism that his political following and theological status would support a rise to Supreme Leader at that time.
Reports emerge (per the article) that succession planning for Ali Khamenei was considered decided but not disclosed publicly, amid ongoing discussion of Mojtaba Khamenei as a possible successor.
He appears with other members of the Qom Seminary in a documented meeting (photo dated March 2016).
Mojtaba Khamenei and other members of the Qom Seminary, March 2016
The United States Department of the Treasury sanctions him, citing his acting in place of the Supreme Leader without being elected or appointed, and alleging close cooperation with the Quds Force and the Basij.
Khamenei in 2019
The article reports that his advanced jurisprudence course draws major enrollment in the Qom Seminary, with more than 1,300 students registered and about 700 attending the opening session.
Iran International publishes leaked IRGC reports alleging he effectively controlled the Basij and influenced assignments and dismissals in IRGC intelligence-related organizations.
A Bloomberg News investigation reports he is linked to an offshore financial network used to hold and move assets abroad, including real estate in London and Dubai; alleged facilitator Ali Ansari (banker) denies ties.
During the 2025–2026 Iranian protests, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent says large sums were wired abroad by Iran’s leaders; Israel’s Channel 14 reports cryptocurrency transfers involving Khamenei (as described in the article).
Following the assassination of Ali Khamenei during the 2026 Iran War, an Interim Leadership Council assumes the Supreme Leader’s duties pending a new election.
According to Iran International, the IRGC pressures members of the Assembly of Experts to elect him; rumors also circulate that he had already become Supreme Leader by this date, which the same reporting describes as incorrect.
US president Donald Trump comments publicly on reports he is tipped for election, calling him a “lightweight” and saying the selection would be “unacceptable,” according to the article.
The 88-member Assembly of Experts announces that Mojtaba Khamenei is elected as the third supreme leader of Iran in a unanimous vote.
After his election, he reportedly makes no public appearances or statements, fueling speculation (in cited reporting) that he may have been incapacitated due to airstrike operations.
Iranian state media report that he is injured in the 2026 Iran war, while the Iranian government states that his wife, parents, one sister, and one son are killed in the same war events referenced as the Assassination of Ali Khamenei.