Hojatolislam Ali Khamenei

Khamenei, Hojatolislam Ali (1939– ), Iranian religious and political leader (1989– ). He served in the legislature (1980–81) and as Iran's president (1981–89). A Shi'te Muslim and follower of the Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, he took part in the 1979 revolution which overthrew the shah.