Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has died, Iranian state media reported Saturday, February 28, 2026.
Khamenei died “in his office at the official residence” whereas “performing his duties” in the early hours of Saturday, according to the state-run Fars news agency. The death of the long-serving leader comes amid heightened regional tensions and could have significant implications for Iran’s domestic and foreign policies.
Satellite images from Airbus showed black smoke rising from the residential complex of the leader in Tehran following the attack. The images appear to show several buildings within the complex were severely damaged by the strikes.
The complex is located in central Tehran, near the university, and serves as a decision-making center and a focal point for the Islamic Republic’s theocratic leadership.
