Last Updated on March 1, 2026 11:52 am by INDIAN AWAAZ
AMN / WEB DESK
Iranian State TV today confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Reports suggest that around 40 Iranian officials were also killed in the strikes. The 40-day state mourning has been declared in Iran. Iranian state media reported at least 201 dead and more than 700 injured.
Earlier US President Donald Trump has said that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed in US-Israel airstrikes. In a social media post, Trump said Khamenei’s death is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country. The US President added that the heavy and pinpoint bombing will continue through the week or longer. The death of Iran’s Supreme Leader occurred after a joint US and Israeli aerial bombardment that targeted Iranian military and governmental sites.
In response, Iran launched attacks throughout the Middle East. Apparent Iranian strikes have been reported in Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, and Kuwait – places with US military bases or that are allied to the US. The United States and Israel launched coordinated attacks on Iran yesterday, sharply escalating tensions in West Asia and prompting widespread retaliation across the region.
Several Iranian state media outlets confirmed Khamenei’s death on Sunday morning, hours after US and Israeli officials declared he had been killed in their joint strikes targeting his regime.
One of the Middle East’s most powerful men, Khamenei dominated Iran during a reign defined by resistance and resilience — standing firm against years of Western and Israeli pressure aimed at forcing the Islamic Republic to bend to their will. Under his leadership, Iran expanded its influence far beyond its borders, earning a reputation as a formidable and dangerous regional power to be reckoned with.
But his death comes at a time when Iran is arguably at its weakest since he took power in 1989. Decades of Western sanctions had already left the country isolated and economically battered before American and Israeli strikes in June 2025 dealt his rule a severe blow.