Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, is widely believed to have died following a major joint military operation carried out by the United States and Israel on Saturday, according to Israeli officials and a senior US intelligence source.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were “increasing indications” that Khamenei was no longer alive after the strike. However, Iranian state media and the country’s foreign ministry have not officially confirmed his death.
Reports from Tehran suggest that some residents gathered in parts of the city in reaction to the news, but the situation remains unclear. An Israeli broadcaster claimed that Netanyahu had been shown an image said to be Khamenei’s body, though this has not been independently verified.
The Israel Defense Forces said seven senior Iranian officials and commanders were killed during the operation, including Ali Shamkhani, a close adviser to Khamenei.
Satellite images released after the strikes showed heavy destruction at the supreme leader’s compound in Tehran, with thick smoke rising from the site.
Khamenei, 86, had led Iran since 1989, succeeding Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the architect of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. As supreme leader, he held ultimate authority over the armed forces, judiciary, legislature and executive branches of government, and served as the country’s highest religious authority.
Though he lacked the personal influence of his predecessor, Khamenei consolidated power by building strong alliances within Iran’s political and military structures, particularly the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Over the years, he maintained firm control despite growing economic challenges and waves of public protest.
Internationally, Khamenei was a central figure in Iran’s long-running nuclear dispute with Western powers. While he issued a religious ruling against weapons of mass destruction in 2003, his government expanded uranium enrichment activities, a move that intensified tensions with the United States and Israel.
Relations with Washington remained strained throughout his tenure. He consistently accused the US of interference in Iran’s affairs and opposed American influence in the region. At the same time, he allowed limited diplomatic engagement, including nuclear negotiations, though he often expressed deep skepticism about Western intentions.
In recent years, domestic unrest increased as economic pressures mounted and public dissatisfaction grew. Critics accused his administration of suppressing dissent and tightening security control rather than introducing reforms.
If confirmed, Khamenei’s death would mark a historic turning point for Iran. There has been no official
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