WASHINGTON DC ~ Iranian state media confirmed Saturday that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in joint U.S. and Israeli strikes, a development President Donald Trump described as the country’s “greatest chance” for citizens to “take back” their government. The announcement followed hours of intensifying attacks across Iranian cities, and U.S. officials said operations would continue with sustained, precise bombardments.
The coordinated strikes continue to target military and leadership sites throughout Tehran and other regions as part of an ongoing campaign. Satellite images showed Khamenei’s compound suffered severe damage from the initial strikes, and Israeli officials said his body had been located in the rubble after the assault. Iranian state media declared a 40-day mourning period and confirmed his death without specifying a cause.
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Feb. 28, 2026 ~ Amir Saeid Iravani, Iranian ambassador to the United Nations, gave a scathing statement condemning the attacks by the U.S. and Israel on his country. He claimed there was no basis for the attacks and they violated Iran’s sovereignty. He accused the U.S. ambassador, Michael Waltz, of misleading the security council with his statement against the Iranian regime.
(CONTINUED) Iran has escalated its response since the confirmation of Khamenei’s death, launching new ballistic missiles toward Israel and expanding strikes across multiple Gulf capitals, including Riyadh, Doha, Manama, Abu Dhabi, and Kuwait City. Explosions continue across the region, and Iranian forces have targeted additional sites such as Kuwait International Airport, where a drone strike injured several people. Iranian military leaders have vowed revenge and warned that stronger action is imminent, signaling preparations for what officials describe as a far more intense phase of operations.
U.S. and Israeli leaders said the joint campaign aims to eliminate Iran’s military threat and curtail its nuclear ambitions. Trump said that some Iranian security personnel “were looking for immunity,” characterizing this as a sign of internal instability. With no named successor to Khamenei, analysts warn Iran is entering a volatile transition that could reshape regional dynamics.
United Nations officials cautioned that the expanding conflict, paired with escalating retaliatory exchanges, poses an immediate threat to regional stability and global security.
