Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has died after being killed in airstrikes carried out by U.S. and Israeli forces, Iranian state media and multiple international outlets report — a dramatic and unprecedented development in the escalating Middle East conflict.

Confirmed by Iranian State Media

Iranian state television and official news agencies announced Khamenei’s death early Sunday, saying he was killed in the coordinated air assault on Tehran and other strategic locations. The government declared a 40-day national mourning period and a week-long public holiday in his honor.

According to these reports, Khamenei was at his office in central Tehran when the strikes occurred, and satellite imagery showed his compound was heavily damaged. Several of his close family members — including a daughter, son-in-law and grandchild — were also reported killed in the same airstrike wave.

U.S. and Israeli Statements

U.S. and Israeli officials had previously indicated that Khamenei was targeted in the opening stages of a major offensive, with intelligence assessments and strike data suggesting his compound was hit. Leaders from both countries acknowledged significant signs that the supreme leader had been killed in the attacks.

Historic Turning Point

Khamenei, 86, had led the Islamic Republic since 1989, shaping its political system, Revolutionary Guard influence and foreign policy — particularly opposition to Western powers and Israel. His death marks a dramatic turning point in Iranian politics and the wider regional crisis, potentially triggering a succession battle and deep uncertainty about the future direction of Tehran’s leadership.

Regional Reaction and Next Steps

Iran’s government and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have vowed fierce retaliation following his death, warning of punitive military measures and rallying support for continued resistance. At the same time, global leaders are calling for restraint amid fears the conflict could widen further.

As the situation continues to unfold, international attention remains fixed on how Iran’s political and military establishment will respond to the loss of its long-time supreme leader and whether his death will deepen or transform the ongoing conflict.