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Reuters and Associated Press
Updated March 1, 2026 — 9:16am,first published 7:26am
US President Donald Trump has said that the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead, calling it the ‘greatest chance’ for Iranians to take back the country.
The United States and Israel launched the most ambitious strikes at the country in decades on Saturday, with an initial strike aimed at the heart of the Iranian regime.
In a social media post, Trump called Khamenei “one of the most evil people in history.” He also said that “heavy and pinpoint bombing” would continue “uninterrupted” through the week or longer.
“This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei...” he said on the post.
“He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do.”
Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had said in a nationally televised address, that there were many signs indicating Khamenei “is no longer” and called on Iranians to finish the job. He had said that Khamenei’s compound had been destroyed, and Revolutionary Guard commanders and senior nuclear officials had been killed.
Shortly after that address, two Israeli officials said Israel had confirmed his death to the Associated Press. The officials both spoke on condition of anonymity pending a formal announcement and gave no further details.
Iran has called the strikes unprovoked and illegal and responded with missiles fired at Israel and at least seven other countries, including Gulf states that host US bases.
The reports of the Ayatollah’s death have been contested by Iran, with Iranian state media citing a source close to Khamenei’s office that the leader remained “steadfast and firm in commanding the field”.
Israeli military officials have already confirmed that initial Israeli-led strikes had killed Iranian Defence Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Pakpour, along with five other senior Iranian military officers. Iranian media had earlier reported that Khamenei’s son-in-law and daughter-in-law were also killed.
Israeli official said that hundreds of Israeli Air Force fighter jets had struck hundreds of military targets across Iran, with the operation starting with a preemptive strike after Israeli military intelligence identified several locations throughout Tehran in which senior officials of the Iranian defence establishment were present.
The assassination of the second leader of the Islamic Republic, who had no designated successor, would throw Iran’s future into doubt.
Khamenei succeeded Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He had the final say on all major policies, led Iran’s clerical establishment and personally commanded the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard – the two main centres of power in the country’s theocracy.
He served as Iran’s president from 1981 to 1989 and is only the second Supreme Leader since the Islamic revolution of 1979.
A hardliner, Khamenei had strenuously resisted efforts from the Iranian government to improve relations with the US and was not in support of Iran downgrading it nuclear capabilities.
AP, Reuters
