Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei Dies Following US-Israeli Airstrikes on Tehran

On February 28, 2026, Israel and the United States launched coordinated airstrikes on Tehran, targeting key sites including the compound of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian state media later confirmed Khamenei's death, marking the end of his 36-year rule characterized by strict domestic control and regional influence. The attacks occurred amid heightened tensions over Iran's nuclear program and ongoing protests. Iran has declared 40 days of mourning, while questions remain about the succession process under the country's theocratic system and potential successors.