Tehran, March 1 — Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been confirmed killed in a joint U.S.–Israel military strike, according to Iranian state media. The 86-year-old leader died after coordinated air and missile attacks targeted leadership and military sites in Tehran, marking a pivotal moment in Middle Eastern geopolitics.
The strikes, described as the largest in recent years, also killed senior military officials and advisers. Iran has declared a national mourning period and vowed severe retaliation, launching missile and drone attacks toward regional targets.
Khamenei, who held ultimate authority since 1989, shaped Iran’s political, military, and religious institutions for more than three decades. His death leaves uncertainty over succession, with the Assembly of Experts expected to appoint a new leader amid heightened tensions.
International reactions have urged restraint, warning of destabilization across the region and potential impacts on global oil markets as military exchanges continue.
