On Saturday, US and Israeli airstrikes targeted several Iranian cities, including Tehran, hitting the high-security compound of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The attack reportedly killed the 86-year-old leader. Fars news agency stated that Khamenei was struck “in his office in the household of the leader” while “carrying out his duties” during the early-morning strike.
Iran has declared 40 days of mourning following the attack. Yet, videos circulating on social media show some Iranians celebrating, dancing, and chanting in the streets.
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A senior Israeli official told international media that Khamenei’s body was recovered from the rubble, and a photograph was shown to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to the New York Post.
Reports also indicate that several members of Khamenei’s family died in the strike, including a daughter, a grandchild, a daughter-in-law, and a son-in-law. Fars agency confirmed, “After establishing contact with informed sources in the Supreme Leader’s household, the news of the martyrdom of the daughter, son-in-law, and granddaughter of the Revolutionary Leader has unfortunately been confirmed.” The exact identities of those killed have not yet been officially released.
Who’s who in the Ayatollah’s family?
Khamenei had long kept his family life private. His father had three daughters with his first wife, all now deceased. After remarrying, his father had five more children: Mohammad, Ali (the Supreme Leader), Badri, Hadi, and Hassan.
Hassan Khamenei is the only brother who did not become a cleric and has worked in Iran’s Ministries of Oil and Culture. Mohammad was politically active and opposed the appointment of Mir Hossein Mousavi as prime minister in 1981. Hadi has been at odds with Khamenei politically and previously published newspapers that were later banned.
Khamenei’s sister Badri was a critic of his policies. She defected to Iraq in the 1980s, returned to Iran in 1995 with her husband, who later served 10 years of a 20-year prison sentence, passing away in 2022.
Khamenei was married to Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh, who rarely appeared publicly. The couple had six children: four sons — Mostafa, Mojtaba, Masoud, and Meysam — and two daughters, Boshra and Hoda. Boshra is married to Mesbah al-Hoda Bagheri Kani, and Hoda to Mohammad Mohammadi Golpayegani. Khamenei also had several grandchildren, whose names remain private.
Mojtaba Khamenei emerges as a potential successor
Among his children, Mojtaba Khamenei is the most prominent and is widely considered a potential successor. Born in 1969, he trained under influential clerics and followed his father into religious leadership.
Mojtaba now teaches theology at the Qom Seminary, Iran’s largest Islamic seminary, and has steadily gained influence in Tehran’s political circles. In 2021, he was granted the title of ayatollah, a constitutional requirement to serve as Iran’s Supreme Leader, cementing his position as a leading contender for the country’s top post.
