Iran’s Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in the course of the huge joint US-Israeli strikes on the nation.
“Khamenei, some of the evil individuals in Historical past, is useless,” US President Donald Trump wrote on social media. “He was unable to keep away from our Intelligence and Extremely Subtle Monitoring Programs and, working intently with Israel, there was not a factor he, or the opposite leaders which have been killed together with him, may do. That is the only best probability for the Iranian individuals to take again their Nation.”
An X account for Khamenei confirmed his dying shortly thereafter, with a publish in Persian which, when translated, learn “Within the identify of Nami Haider (peace be upon him).” Iranian state media reported on his dying early Sunday morning.
Khamenei, 86, was in energy for nearly 40 years, and his reign was marked by excessive tensions with the US and the West extra broadly, in addition to a current brutal crackdown on Iranians protesting excessive inflation. Tensions with the US have centered on Iran’s longstanding help for terrorism and its pursuit of nuclear weapons.
In current weeks, because the US urged Iran to make a brand new nuclear deal, the American army has been increase its forces within the Center East. The buildup has been accompanied by heated rhetoric and warnings from each Washington and Tehran.
Missiles struck a number of high-value targets in and round Tehran, together with Khamenei’s compound close to Tehran and his places of work within the capital. Khamenei’s location in the course of the strikes was beforehand unknown.
Throughout President Donald Trump’s video statement asserting the beginning of “main fight operations” in opposition to Iran on Saturday morning, the president known as for Iranian residents to “take over your authorities.” He mentioned, “This shall be most likely your solely probability for generations.” Trump has lately made comparable feedback in favor of regime change in Iran.
Individually, Israel has repeatedly issued threats in opposition to Khamenei. In June 2025, after joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, Israel’s Protection Minister Israel Katz mentioned Khamenei “can not live on,” calling him a dictator. Different Israeli officers, like Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have made comparable statements.
Khamenei turned Supreme Chief in 1989, performing as the last word authority throughout all branches of the Iranian authorities and the army. Khamenei was additionally the nation’s spiritual chief and was granted the title of ayatollah, a title for high-ranking clerics in Shia Islam, Iran’s official state faith.
His dying marks a significant upheaval amid US fight operations in opposition to Iran, which each the US and Israel mentioned was geared toward eliminating imminent threats to People and Israelis. The American operation, known as “Epic Fury,” has concerned a combination of land, air, and sea property, together with Tomahawk missiles, Excessive Mobility Artillery Rocket Programs, and drones.
It stays to be seen how Khamenei’s dying will have an effect on the destiny of Iran’s regime, which is bolstered by the hardline Revolutionary Guard Corps and an enormous inside safety pressure.
Iran’s retaliatory strikes focused US bases throughout the area, with US property and accomplice forces, together with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, concerned in air defenses.