Hujjat al-Islam Sayyid Hadi Khamenei (Persian: سید هادی خامنه‌ای; born 26 January 1948)[2] is an Iranian reformist politician, mujtahid and linguist.

[3] He is a key member of the reformist Association of Combatant Clerics, and a former deputy of the Majlis of Iran representing a district in Tehran.

[7] Hadi Khamenei became a leading reformer in the 1990s, putting him at odds with his older brother, whose official position he criticized as having too much power.

[11] In 1998, the Guardian Council rejected Hadi Khamenei's candidacy for a seat in the Assembly of Experts,[12] allegedly for having "insufficient theological qualifications.

"[8] In the 1990s, Hadi Khamenei spoke at seminaries across Iran and launched a reformist newspaper to provide alternative coverage to the state media.

[16] The Ministry of Islamic Guidance and Culture and the "Society of Lecturers and Researchers at Qom's Theological Seminary" also condemned the attack.

The member of the Iranian Parliament Rajab Rahmani argued that Hadi Khamenei staged the attack to get attention and pity.