Iran is in mourning following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the country’s supreme leader, after a U.S.-Israeli attack on Saturday, February 28, 2026. The death of Khamenei, who had ruled Iran for nearly four decades, marks a significant turning point for the Islamic Republic and raises concerns about potential regional instability.
According to reports, Israel launched approximately 30 bombs at Khamenei’s palace early Saturday morning. Later that evening, Israeli sources confirmed to Reuters that the ayatollah had been found dead. Both President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly viewed images of Khamenei’s body, according to AFP.
“One of the most evil people in history is dead,” Trump wrote on his social media platform, Truth Social, late Saturday. He continued, “He could not escape our intelligence services and our remarkably sophisticated tracking systems, and in close cooperation with Israel there was nothing he or the other killed leaders could do.”
Iranian state TV confirmed Khamenei’s death Saturday night, following earlier statements from the Iranian Foreign Ministry asserting he was alive and in good health. The announcement came after several hours of conflicting reports. Iran has declared 40 days of national mourning.
Reports indicate Khamenei was killed at his office during the early hours of Saturday morning. Several family members of the supreme leader were likewise reportedly killed in the attack, including his daughter and grandson.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) stated in a post on X that it had eliminated seven additional high-ranking Iranian officials, including Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh and Khamenei’s security advisor, Ali Shamkhani.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had served as Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him one of the longest-serving leaders in the Middle East. For over 36 years, he held ultimate control over Iran’s military, legal, and media institutions, and exerted significant influence over the country’s politics.
“This is a leader who has ruled Iran with an iron fist for decades. Iran is now being plunged into an uncertainty that could not be predicted,” said Gilda Hamidi-Nia.
There is now significant concern over how the Iranian regime will respond to Khamenei’s death and the attacks, which both Netanyahu and Trump have indicated will continue. The situation could have “devastating consequences for Iran,” according to reports.
