Ayatollah Khamenei's iron grip on power in Iran comes to an end

Iranian state TV confirms the supreme leader has been killed on the first day of massive US and Israeli air strikes on the country.

Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader from 1989 until his death at age 86 on February 28, 2026, was killed in a joint U.S.-Israeli airstrike that also targeted military and government infrastructure.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's long-time supreme leader, died on February 28, 2026, at age 86 in a joint U.S.-Israeli operation. He ruled as the highest religious and political authority since 1989, shaping Iran's domestic and foreign policies with increasing authoritarianism.