Iran’s state television and official state media have confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed following a large-scale joint military assault by the United States and the Israel Defense Forces that began on Saturday and continued into Sunday. Iranian broadcasters announced early on March 1, 2026, that Khamenei — who had led the Islamic Republic since 1989 — died in the strikes, and the government has declared a 40-day period of national mourning and seven days of public holidays to honor him.
The confirmation by Iranian state media follows earlier statements from Israeli officials and former U.S. leadership claiming that Khamenei was killed during air attacks on key leadership and military targets — including his office and compound in Tehran. Reports say other senior figures, such as top commanders of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and advisers close to the Supreme Leader, were also killed in the strikes.
Across Iran, the announcement has sparked a tense and emotional response. State television footage showed solemn broadcasts, sometimes with anchors visibly emotional, as the news was read to the nation. Government statements described Khamenei’s death as “martyrdom,” framing it in the context of his lifelong leadership against foreign adversaries.
Iran’s armed forces and political leadership have vowed retaliation. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued statements promising “severe and decisive punishment” for those they hold responsible. There are widespread warnings that the region could face further escalation as Tehran mobilizes against what it calls an “illegal, aggressive” act by foreign forces.
International reactions are swift and varied. Some world leaders have called for restraint and urgent diplomatic efforts to prevent a broader conflict, while analysts warn that the sudden removal of Iran’s top authority — without a clearly identified successor at the moment — could lead to political instability inside Iran and uncertainty across the Middle East.
As the dust settles from this historic and enormously consequential event, the global community watches closely, aware that the consequences of Khamenei’s death will reverberate far beyond Iran’s borders and could reshape the region’s geopolitical landscape in the weeks and months ahead.