Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a joint United States–Israel strike on Saturday, Iranian state media confirmed early Sunday. Members of his family, including his daughter, son-in-law and grandson, were also reported killed in the attack on his residential compound.
The confirmation came hours after US President Donald Trump claimed Khamenei had been killed in a coordinated US–Israeli air strike. The development marks one of the most dramatic escalations in decades of hostility between Iran, Israel and the United States.
During his decades-long rule, Khamenei maintained a fiercely adversarial stance towards Western powers, particularly Washington, which he repeatedly described as Iran’s “number one enemy”, with Israel close behind. His tenure was defined by sweeping international sanctions, regional confrontations and recurring domestic unrest driven by economic hardship and political grievances.
Israeli and US officials had previously issued pointed warnings against Iran’s leadership. After a 12-day confrontation last year involving US–Israeli strikes and Iranian retaliation, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said Khamenei “cannot continue to exist”. Around the same time, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu signalled that targeting the Iranian leader had not been ruled out, arguing it could end the prolonged conflict.
President Trump had also described Khamenei as an “easy target” should Washington choose military action.
The strike that killed Khamenei
Khamenei was killed during a coordinated US–Israel operation targeting a high-level leadership meeting in Tehran, according to officials familiar with the mission. The attack relied on speed and surprise amid concerns he could retreat into Iran’s extensive underground security network if alerted.
He had been expected to meet senior advisers on Saturday evening, but Israeli intelligence detected that the gathering had been moved to Saturday morning. Military planners advanced the strike accordingly.
The US Central Intelligence Agency had reportedly tracked Khamenei’s movements for months and identified the leadership compound in central Tehran as the venue. Washington shared real-time intelligence with Israel, enabling rapid operational adjustments. Although the initial plan envisioned a nighttime strike, commanders launched the attack earlier after confirming the presence of senior officials.
The assault began at around 6:00am Israel time. Roughly two hours later, Israeli Air Force jets fired long-range missiles at the compound, followed by precision strikes. Reports indicate that nearly 30 bombs struck the complex, where senior national security figures were assembled in multiple buildings, including one near Khamenei’s location.
Satellite imagery later showed extensive destruction at the high-security compound, underscoring the scale of the operation.
Israeli officials said several senior figures were killed alongside Khamenei, including former Supreme National Security Council secretary Ali Shamkhani and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohammad Pakpour. Senior official Ali Larijani, who had attended the meeting earlier, survived.
Who was Ayatollah Khamenei
The 86-year-old cleric had served as Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, succeeding Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, architect of the Islamic Republic and leader of the 1979 revolution that toppled Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi.
While Khomeini shaped the revolution’s ideology, Khamenei consolidated Iran’s political and security structure. Under his leadership, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and the Basij paramilitary force became central pillars of state authority, expanding Iran’s regional reach and shaping its defence posture.
Before assuming the supreme leadership, he served as Iran’s president during the Iran–Iraq war in the 1980s.
His rule faced repeated internal challenges, including the 2009 protests over disputed elections and the 2022 demonstrations centred on women’s rights and civil liberties. Earlier this year, protests fuelled by economic hardship escalated into nationwide unrest, posing one of the most serious challenges to the Islamic Republic since 1979.
Khamenei consistently maintained that Iran’s nuclear programme was purely civilian, rejecting accusations that Tehran sought nuclear weapons.
Nationwide mourning and regional reactions
Iran has declared a 40-day national mourning period. President Masoud Pezeshkian condemned the killing as “a great crime” and announced seven days of public holidays.
Large crowds gathered in Tehran and other cities, with authorities preparing nationwide funeral ceremonies under heightened security.
The killing sparked regional reactions. Iraq declared three days of mourning, while protests erupted in Baghdad’s fortified Green Zone, where demonstrators clashed with security forces near government buildings and foreign embassies.
Protests were also reported in Karachi, Pakistan, where demonstrators targeted the US consulate, damaging property and setting fires.
According to Iran’s official IRNA news agency, a temporary three-member leadership council — comprising the president, the judiciary chief and a jurist from the Guardian Council — will assume executive responsibilities until a new Supreme Leader is selected under constitutional procedures.
The assassination is expected to carry far-reaching geopolitical consequences, heightening fears of further escalation across the Middle East and beyond.
