Trump says Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei killed after US-Israeli attacks

US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday, February 28, 2026, that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been killed. The 86-year-old leader, who had governed the Islamic Republic since 1989, was reportedly eliminated during a massive joint military operation conducted by the United States and Israel. In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump described Khamenei as "one of the most evil people in history" and claimed that highly sophisticated tracking systems ensured he could not escape the "pinpoint" bombardment that targeted his compound in Tehran.

The strikes, which began in the early hours of Saturday, were part of a larger campaign aimed at neutralizing Iran’s nuclear capabilities and military leadership. According to Israeli and US officials, several other high-ranking figures, including the commander of the Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) and the Iranian Defense Minister, were also killed in the initial wave. While Iranian state-linked media initially dismissed the reports as "mental warfare," later updates from semi-official sources and international observers suggest a catastrophic collapse of the leadership structure in Tehran.

Iran has declared 40 days of national mourning and seven days of public holidays following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, state media announced after confirming his passing. During this period, official events and institutions will observe mourning rites, reflecting the leadership’s emphasis on his role in shaping the Islamic Republic. The extended mourning and holiday period comes amid broader tensions and uncertainty as the country begins the process of leadership transition. 

President Trump framed the assassination as a monumental opportunity for the Iranian people to "take back their country." He urged the Iranian Revolutionary Guard and the police to join the "patriots" instead of resisting, offering immunity to those who lay down their arms. Meanwhile, the region remains on a knife-edge as Iran launched retaliatory missile and drone strikes against US bases and Israeli cities, as well as targets in several Gulf countries, pulling the Middle East into what many fear is a full-scale regional war.