Khamenei’s Rise and Final Journey

1939 — Birth in Mashhad
Ali Khamenei was born in Mashhad, one of Iran’s most important religious cities.

1979 — Rise with the Islamic Revolution Khamenei emerged as a key figure after Iran’s Islamic Revolution, aligning himself closely with the new revolutionary leadership.

1981 — Survives assassination attempt
Before becoming president, Khamenei survived a bombing during a speech in June 1981, an attack that left him with lasting injuries.

1981–1989 — President during wartime
He served as Iran’s president during the Iran-Iraq War, a period that shaped his security-focused political outlook. 1989 — Becomes Supreme Leader

Following the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, Khamenei was chosen as Iran’s second supreme leader, becoming the country’s most powerful political and religious authority. 1989–2026 — Decades at the centre of Iranian power For more than three decades, Khamenei oversaw Iran’s domestic politics, military posture, nuclear policy and regional influence, while maintaining a strongly anti-Western position.

28 February 2026 — Death in Tehran
Khamenei was killed in Tehran during a US-Israeli airstrike, a development that pushed Iran into a major moment of political uncertainty.

4 July 2026 — Funeral ceremonies begin
Iran begins funeral ceremonies in Tehran, with authorities preparing for mass public mourning and tightened security.

Final journey through religious centres
His body is expected to be taken through key religious and symbolic locations, including Qom and the Iraqi shrine cities of Najaf and Karbala.

9 July 2026 — Burial in Mashhad Khamenei buried on Friday in his hometown of Mashhad, near the Imam Reza shrine, closing a week of state-led mourning.