Mojtaba Khamenei was born on September 8, 1969, in Mashhad, the second child of the Azerbaijani-Persian Khamenei family. He was nine years old when the Islamic Revolution turned his father into a leading figure.
The ultra-conservative Shiite studied psychology and psychoanalysis. He speaks fluent English. As a mid-ranking cleric, he taught theology at the Qom seminary. In 1987, he joined the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and served in the Iran-Iraq War. He is also said to have had influence over the Basij militia.
Although Mojtaba was considered the most likely successor to his father, his selection is said to have been controversial.
Money rules the world
Mojtaba likely controls significant holdings in banks such as Bank Ayandeh. A year-long Bloomberg investigation concluded in January 2026 that Khamenei is linked to an offshore financial network used to hold and transfer assets outside Iran. The reported assets include high-value real estate in London and Dubai, as well as stakes in shipping, banking, and hospitality in Europe. According...
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