Donald Trump Says Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Is Dead

Donald Trump Says Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei Is Dead

On February 28, 2026, United States President Donald Trump announced on social media that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed during a series of joint U.S. and Israeli military strikes on Iran. The strikes, described by U.S. and Israeli officials as part of a coordinated campaign targeting Iranian military and leadership facilities, began earlier that day with aerial and missile attacks across multiple locations in Iran. Trump’s announcement referred to Khamenei’s death as a significant development, characterizing it as a chance for the Iranian people to change their government.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated in a separate address that there were strong indications Khamenei had been killed in the strikes and that senior figures within Iran’s military and nuclear program had also been eliminated. Later reports, including statements from Iranian state media, confirmed that Khamenei had been killed and declared a period of national mourning. The strikes marked a major escalation in the ongoing military confrontation involving the United States, Israel, and Iran.

Iranian officials initially provided conflicting information regarding Khamenei’s status, with some Iranian leaders denying that he had been killed. However, Iranian state media subsequently confirmed his death and announced a 40-day mourning period. The situation continued to unfold, with regional tensions remaining high and retaliatory actions reported in the hours following the announcement.