Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei has been confirmed killed after a joint military strike by the United States and Israel, according to Iranian state media and multiple international news agencies.
The Iranian state television announced early Sunday (March 1, 2026) that Khamenei, 86, died in the attacks on Tehran, which were described by U.S. and Israeli officials as aimed at the Islamic Republic’s top leadership.
U.S. President Donald Trump publicly stated Khamenei’s death on social media before the state confirmation.
State media also reported that several senior figures and members of Khamenei’s family including his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter — were killed in the strike.
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Iran has declared a 40-day national mourning period and senior leadership roles in the government are in transition as regional retaliation continues.
The strikes have triggered broader escalation, with Iranian military forces launching missiles and drone attacks against Israeli targets and U.S. bases in the Middle East.
Khamenei led Iran’s political, military and religious institutions since succeeding Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989, consolidating theocratic rule and expanding Iran’s regional influence. His death marks a major geopolitical shift with uncertain implications for Iran’s governance and Middle East stability.
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Image Credit: NaijaNews
Source: NaijaNews.ng
