March 2, 2026
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, has died after joint United States and Israel strikes on Iranian territory, Iranian state media and international authorities confirmed, marking one of the most dramatic escalations in Middle East affairs in decades.
Iran’s state broadcasters announced on Sunday that Khamenei, 86, was killed during large-scale air and missile attacks on Tehran and other strategic sites conducted by Israel and the US on Saturday.
Officials said he died within his compound, alongside several family members and senior military leaders.
Iran immediately declared 40 days of national mourning and seven days of public holiday, with state funerals planned amid ongoing bombardments.
In response to the attacks and Khamenei’s death, Iranian forces launched missile and drone strikes against Israel and US military bases across the Gulf, including in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, according to multiple reports.
These retaliatory strikes have caused casualties and infrastructure damage, fuelling fears the conflict could spiral further.
Global reactions divide sharply
President Donald Trump described the operation as a significant blow against Tehran’s leadership, framing Khamenei’s death as a momentous event for the region and for the Iranian people.
Israeli officials also hailed the strikes as a strategic success, part of a broader campaign to neutralise Iran’s nuclear and military capabilities.
By contrast, Russia and China condemned the killings as unlawful, accusing the US and Israel of violating international norms. Several European nations and the UN called for urgent de-escalation to prevent a wider war.
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Reactions inside Iran are deeply split. State-sponsored mourning events have taken place in major cities, while smaller pockets of celebration have been reported both within Iran and among expatriate communities abroad.
Security forces have imposed tight controls amid widespread uncertainty.
Protests and solidarity marches have also occurred in countries such as Iraq and India, reflecting regional and global concern over the conflict’s trajectory.
With Khamenei’s death, Iran’s constitutional procedures require the Assembly of Experts to select a new supreme leader, but the process is made more complex by ongoing hostilities and the death of other senior figures in the opening strikes.
A temporary leadership council has been formed to oversee governance during the transition, but analysts warn of potential internal power struggles and the continued influence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
The geopolitical impact is profound. Markets, particularly in the energy sector, have reacted to the heightened instability, with analysts highlighting risks to the Strait of Hormuz and global oil supplies.
International leaders are assessing diplomatic options even as military exchanges continue.
As nations grapple with the ramifications of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death after US and Israel strikes, the future of Iran’s political structure and the wider Middle East balance remains uncertain.
