Updated: 8:11 AM, March 1, 2026
Iran, after initially dismissing claims of Khamenei's death, has now confirmed that its Supreme Leader is dead. "The Supreme Leader of Iran Has Reached Martyrdom," state broadcaster IRIB reported on Sunday morning, multiple media reports have now confirmed. The cause of Khamenei's death wasn't revealed.
In wake of the leader's death, the Iranian government has announced 40 days of mourning. Khamenei died in the early hours of Saturday.
The US-Israel joint military campaign against Iran witnessed its biggest headline after US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is dead. Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu also announced that there are many signs that Khamenei is dead. Both country leaders claim to have seen photographic evidence of a successful strike, killing Iran's supreme leader.
"Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead," Trump said in a statement. He called it "Justice for the people of Iran" and for "all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS."
Trump said Khamenei "was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do."
He described the moment as "the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country."
"We are hearing that many of their IRGC, Military, and other Security and Police Forces, no longer want to fight, and are looking for Immunity from us," Trump said. Repeating a warning issued earlier, he added: "Now they can have Immunity, later they only get Death!"
The President said he hoped "the IRGC and Police will peacefully merge with the Iranian Patriots, and work together as a unit to bring back the Country to the Greatness it deserves."
He claimed that "not only the death of Khamenei but the Country has been, in only one day, very much destroyed and, even, obliterated."
"The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!" he said.
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on X that "President Trump monitored the situation overnight at Mar-a-Lago alongside members of his national security team."
"The President spoke with Prime Minister Netanyahu by phone," she said.Leavitt added that "Prior to the attacks, Secretary (of State, Marco) Rubio called all members of the gang of eight to provide congressional notification, and he was able to reach and brief seven of the eight members."
"The President and his national security team will continue to closely monitor the situation throughout the day," she said.
According to local Israeli media, photographs of Khamenei's body being recovered from the rubble in Tehran following a missile strike has been obtained. Both countries have expressed utmost confidence on the intelligence. However, Iran maintains a strong stance that Trump's claims are baseless. According to a post by the head of public relations for the Office of the Supreme Leader, the reports of Khamenei's death are merely part of "psychological warfare" carried out by Iran's enemies.
Local Iranian media outlets have also denied the allegations of Khamenei's death, contradicting the claims of Trump and Netanyahu. Beyond the denial, Tehran hasn't shared any evidence of Khamenei being alive, rather local reports claim he remains firmly in command.
Meanwhile, Trump said that US bombing will continue "throughout the week or, as long as necessary".
In a background call with reporters, senior administration officials said the President believed diplomacy was not a viable option. They cited intelligence assessments and described Iran's missile and enrichment capabilities as unacceptable risks.
The announcement marks a dramatic escalation in tensions between Washington and Tehran. The US and Iran have been at odds for decades over Tehran's nuclear programme, regional proxies, and ballistic missile development.
