Iran’s Cabinet early Sunday warned that a “great crime will never go unanswered” after what it described as a joint US–Israeli military operation killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iranian state media reported that the 86-year-old leader died in an airstrike that hit his compound in central Tehran. State television interrupted its broadcast to announce his death.
Addressing the nation, a news anchor said, “With ultimate grief and sorrow, we inform you that following the barbaric attack by the criminal governments of America and the evil Zionist regime, the Supreme Leader of the Revolution Grand Ayatollah Khamenei achieved the blessing of martyrdom.”
Semi-official media reported that Khamenei’s daughter and son-in-law were among those killed in the strikes. Fars News Agency, citing unnamed sources, said a grandchild and a daughter-in-law also died in Saturday’s attacks. It did not provide further details.
The government declared 40 days of national mourning and announced a seven-day nationwide public holiday in memory of the late leader, the Associated Press reported.
State television said Khamenei was inside his Tehran compound when the attack began. It added that satellite images from Airbus showed extensive bombing damage at the site.
The broadcaster said his death at his workplace demonstrated that he stood “at the forefront of his responsibilities” confronting what officials described as global arrogance.
State television and the state-run IRNA news agency later formally confirmed his death without elaborating.
Earlier, US President Donald Trump said Khamenei was killed in a joint American–Israeli operation against Iran.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese voiced support for US actions. Writing on social media, he said Australia backs efforts to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and from threatening international peace and security.
The Arab League said the Israeli–US airstrikes marked a turning point, describing the situation as a “full-scale regional war”. Its UN observer, Maged Abdelaziz, told an emergency Security Council meeting that Israel was using the Iran conflict to avoid ending its occupation of Palestinian territories and to impose its hegemony on the Middle East through military means.
Despite reports of limited progress in US–Iran talks in Geneva two days earlier, Abdelaziz said Israel carried out what he called a “wanton military attack”, claiming it aimed to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
He added that Israel refuses to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and does not place its nuclear facilities under International Atomic Energy Agency safeguards.
The IAEA said its Board of Governors will hold a special session in Vienna on Monday at Russia’s request. A diplomatic note dated 28 February said the meeting will address matters related to military strikes by the United States and Israel against Iran that began on the morning of 28 February 2026, following repeated open threats, including against nuclear facilities under IAEA safeguards. The session will take place ahead of the board’s regular meeting.
