Several major news outlets report that Ali Khamenei, Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, has died, a stunning development confirmed by Iranian state television and official sources early on March 1, 2026 🇮🇷📺.

State broadcasters announced that the 86-year-old leader had reached “martyrdom,” triggering an official 40-day period of national mourning across the country.

The announcement comes amid a major regional crisis after joint U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iranian targets — a campaign that Western and Middle Eastern sources say targeted key military and government infrastructure in Tehran. U.S. and Israeli officials had earlier reported that Khamenei was killed in these operations, and U.S. President Donald Trump publicly asserted the news before Tehran’s confirmation.

Khamenei was the most powerful figure in Iran, combining spiritual authority and political control for more than three decades. During his rule, he shaped both domestic policy and Iran’s role on the world stage — from its nuclear ambitions to its influence across the Middle East.

News of his death has already sent shockwaves through global capitals, raising urgent questions about the future of the Islamic Republic, the succession process, and whether regional tensions will escalate further. According to Iranian officials, a temporary leadership council is expected to be formed immediately to manage the transition before a new Supreme Leader is chosen.

This historic announcement marks one of the most consequential moments in modern Middle Eastern politics — and the world will be watching closely as events continue to unfold. 📰🌍