WASHINGTON: Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was assassinated in large-scale military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel, Iranian state media confirmed on Sunday, marking one of the most dramatic escalations in Middle East tensions in decades.
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According to Iranian state television, Khamenei was killed in the early hours of Saturday when coordinated attacks targeted key Iranian leadership and military facilities. The announcement came hours after a senior Israeli official said the Iranian leader’s body had been recovered from the strike site.
⚡️BREAKING: Iranian state television (IRIB) has confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
He was killed as a result of US and Israeli strikes on Tehran. Earlier, Trump and Israeli authorities announced his elimination. Iran long denied it, but now confirmation… pic.twitter.com/Vo6ITa1ERB— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) March 1, 2026
Khamenei, who had ruled Iran since 1989, was one of the region’s most influential and powerful figures. Iranian authorities declared 40 days of mourning and announced seven days of public holidays following his death.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards confirmed the loss, describing Khamenei as a historic leader and vowing “severe punishment” against those responsible. The Guards warned that retaliation against Israel and US military bases would be swift and decisive.
US President Donald Trump said the operation was closely coordinated with Israel and aimed at eliminating what he described as a long-standing threat. He said intelligence systems had tracked Iranian leadership and claimed the strikes were necessary to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that Khamenei’s compound had been destroyed. Iranian Defence Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Pakpour were also reported killed, along with several senior military commanders.
Iran responded by firing missiles at Israel and multiple countries hosting US bases, escalating fears of a broader regional war.
The United Nations, along with Russia and China, condemned the attacks and called for restraint. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged an immediate halt to hostilities, warning that further escalation could destabilise the entire region and threaten global security.