Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei has been killed in U.S.–Israel airstrikes

Ayatollah ruled Iran for more than three decades amid tensions with the West

Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader and the country’s most powerful political and religious authority for over three decades, has been killed following joint U.S.–Israel airstrikes, according to Donald Trump.

Trump announced Khamenei’s death in a social media post on Saturday, describing it as justice for victims of Iran’s actions and confirming that the strikes targeted key Iranian leadership and military infrastructure.

Khamenei, 86, had dominated Iran’s political system since becoming Supreme Leader in 1989, overseeing the country’s military, judiciary, and foreign policy during decades of confrontation with the United States and its allies.

His reported death marks a major turning point in the escalating conflict, which saw the United States and Israel launch coordinated airstrikes across Iran earlier in the day.

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Iranian authorities have yet to issue a detailed public response confirming the claim, and the broader geopolitical implications of Khamenei’s reported death remain uncertain as tensions continue to rise across the Middle East.