Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei killed in US-Israel strike

Iranian state media report that the 86-year-old supreme leader was killed in his office during coordinated strikes by the United States and Israel. 

The death of Ali Khamenei marks a dramatic and defining moment in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The attacks targeted multiple locations across Iran, including military installations and intelligence headquarters, with Tehran described as the most heavily hit area.

In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned of a “devastating offensive” against US bases and Israel.

Born in 1939 in Mashhad, Khamenei joined the opposition movement led by Ruhollah Khomeini in the 1960s.

After the 1979 Islamic Revolution, he rose through the ranks of the new regime, becoming deputy defence minister and helping to organize the IRGC.

When Khomeini died in 1989, the Assembly of Experts selected Khamenei as supreme leader, amending the constitution to allow him to assume the role despite not holding the highest clerical rank required at the time.

He went on to lead Iran for 37 years, maintaining tight control over politics, the military, and the judiciary, while suppressing internal dissent and taking a hardline stance against the United States and Israel.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council confirmed his death, describing it as “martyrdom” and blaming Washington and Tel Aviv.

The country has declared 40 days of public mourning and seven days of national holiday.

State television is broadcasting Quran recitations alongside images of Khamenei, with black banners marking the period of mourning.

US President Donald Trump said Khamenei was killed in a joint operation and described him as “one of the most evil people in history,” claiming his death presents a major opportunity for the Iranian people.

More than 200 people have reportedly been killed in the strikes, including around 40 Iranian officials.

Among them are senior security figures such as IRGC commander-in-chief Mohammad Pakpour and Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Defence Council.

Iran has launched retaliatory strikes across the region, targeting US allies and areas hosting American military bases, including Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, and Kuwait.

Drone debris has caused casualties and damage in the United Arab Emirates, including incidents at Dubai International Airport, Jebel Ali Port, and Abu Dhabi’s Zayed International Airport.

Under Iran’s constitution, the Assembly of Experts must appoint a new supreme leader as soon as possible.

Until then, the president, the head of the judiciary, and a cleric member of the Guardian Council will oversee the transition.

The sudden loss of the country’s most powerful figure raises urgent questions about succession, stability, and whether Iran’s future direction could shift after nearly four decades under Khamenei’s rule.