Khamenei’s family hit in Israeli strikes as Iran confirms daughter, son-in-law and grandchild killed

Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's daughter, son-in-law and grandchild have been killed in Isarel's missile strikes, the Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC)-affiliated Fars News confirmed. As per latest development, the 86-year-old Iranian leader was killed in the US-Israeli strikes, Reuters reported, citing Iranian state media.

Earlier, US President Donald Trump in a post on Truth Social confirmed that the Iranian Supreme Leader had been killed and said that it is the “greatest chance” for the Iranian people to “take back” their country. Trump asserted that “heavy and pinpoint bombing” will continue through the week or as long as necessary.

As Iran-Israel's exchange of deadly missiles continues, focus has shifted to Khamenei’s family following reports of death of multiple family members of Iran's Supreme Leader. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's wife, children and grandkids are in the spotlight since the United States and Israel launched strikes on Tehran.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's wife Mansoureh Khojasteh Bagherzadeh is the daughter of Mashhad businessman Mohammad Esmaeil Khojasteh Bagherzadeh. The two have six children, including three daughters and many grandchildren. Hoda, Meysam and Bushra are the three publicly known daughters of the Iranian leader including one grandson, identified as Mohammad Bagher Khamenei.

Even though limited public details are available about his family's whereabouts, some reports suggest that most of his immediate family members live in Iran, while some relatives, including nephews and grandsons, live overseas in Paris. Details regarding his family life remains mostly private.

All to know about Ayatollah Khamenei

Born in Mashhad, northeastern Iran, in 1939, Khamenei was the second of eight children in a religious family. His father was a mid-ranking cleric from the Shia branch of Islam, the dominant sect in Iran, according to a BBC report. Khamenei's education focused on the Quran, and he qualified as a cleric by the age of 11. But, like many religious leaders of the time, his work was as much political as spiritual.

Since 1989, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei served as the supreme leader of Iran. He exercised control over government branches, the military and the judiciary after succeeding Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Khamenei was voted to power and as the President of Iran in 1981 after the assassination of Mohammad-Ali Rajai. He served as the president of Iran till 1989.

He played a crucial role in 1979 Iranian revolution that overthrew Mohammad Reza Pahlavi's regime — the shah of Iran. After the death of the first supreme leader of Iran, Ruhollah Khomeini, in 1989, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was elected to take his post by the Assembly of Experts. He served as supreme leader for 36 years, making him the longest-serving head of state in the Middle East.

Under Khamenei regime, Iran established some of the best healthcare and education in the region. According to the World Bank, life expectancy increased from 62 in 1986 to 77 years in 2023. In the same period, Iran female literacy rates rose to all time high of 81% from 41%.