Trump says Iran's Khamenei is dead - Reuters

<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikAFBVV95cUxPSFFORXBXR1RrNGNMWXA0Mm9XT2NWZkxidDVzY0cwUFRNb2xnV0FqcGpIeFk3RGdsczFQMWdyOXpIUXBjXzdVbFNNajhnZzM1SmNqZGlKNDM0NDQydEFmU2FrNmtQUEJOQl9wWXRpMkhxaGlfZ01pX3hoMHF4ZnhJQ3lTUHZJN1FQQWRhNHdUR0U?oc=5" target="_blank">Trump says Iran's Khamenei is dead</a>&nbsp;&nbsp;<font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader since 1989, has died at age 86 following a reported joint U.S.-Israeli attack. Khamenei, who succeeded revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, ruled for over three decades, transforming Iran into a theocratic regime with powerful paramilitary forces like the Revolutionary Guard and a significant regional presence. His tenure was marked by increasing authoritarianism, suppression of dissent—including deadly crackdowns on protests—and confrontations with the U.S. and Israel, especially over Iran’s nuclear program. Though lacking Khomeini’s charisma and religious authority, Khamenei centralized significant power, wielding influence through a vast clerical and political network. His reign saw Iran’s support of militant proxies such as Hezbollah and the Houthis, as well as its deep involvement in the region’s conflicts in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. Under his leadership, Iran’s nuclear program advanced to near weapons-grade capacity despite international sanctions. Khamenei’s death, along with several family members killed in the same strike, has left Iran without a clear successor. The Revolutionary Guard remains a potent force as domestic unrest grows. Iran has declared 40 days of mourning amid uncertainty over the future of its leadership and regional policy.

On February 28, 2026, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a military strike on Tehran, marking the start of a major campaign led by the United States and Israel. President Donald Trump confirmed Khamenei's death on social media, framing it as justice for victims of the Iranian regime. Khamenei's death followed a brutal crackdown on widespread protests in Iran, which reportedly killed around 30,000 people. The joint U.S.-Israeli offensive follows long-standing tensions over Iran's nuclear program, with Western powers accusing Iran of developing nuclear weapons, though U.S. intelligence maintained Iran had not reinitiated its weapons program since suspending it in 2003. Israel and the U.S. had previously bombed parts of Iran's nuclear infrastructure in 2025. Khamenei, who assumed power in 1989, oversaw Iran’s hardline theocracy, expanded influence via regional proxy forces, and crushed internal dissent. His death signals a possible turning point in the Middle East, amid collapsing Iranian influence and heightened Western military action.