DOHA March 1, 2026 – U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed during a major joint U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran, describing the strike as delivering “justice” for victims worldwide. However, Iranian state media immediately rejected the claim, stating that Khamenei remains alive and “steadfast and firm in commanding the field.”
The dramatic development came hours after U.S. and Israeli forces launched widespread airstrikes across Iran early on February 28, 2026, targeting military, nuclear, and leadership sites in what officials described as a campaign to neutralize Iran’s nuclear threat and support regime change.
In a post on Truth Social, President Trump declared:
“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS. He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do.”
Trump added that “heavy and pinpoint bombing” would continue “uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!”
Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, confirmed that strikes hit Khamenei’s compound in Tehran and reported signs that the 86-year-old leader — who has ruled Iran since 1989 — was among those killed. Multiple Western outlets, including Al Jazeera, CNN, BBC, The New York Times, and Reuters, cited U.S. and Israeli intelligence sources confirming the operation’s focus on decapitating Iran’s top leadership.
Iranian news agencies Tasnim and Mehr pushed back strongly, reporting that Khamenei is safe and continuing to direct the country’s response. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News the supreme leader is “alive as far as I know.” Iran responded to the strikes with barrages of ballistic missiles and drones targeting Israel and U.S. bases in the region, including facilities in the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.
The operation, dubbed by some sources as “Operation Epic Fury,” follows months of escalating tensions, including Iran’s nuclear advancements and earlier limited exchanges of fire. U.S. officials said the strikes aimed to destroy Iran’s ballistic missile capabilities and nuclear sites, while Israel focused on leadership targets.
Analysts say Khamenei’s reported death — if confirmed — would create a massive power vacuum in Iran, potentially triggering internal upheaval or a succession crisis within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Life News Agency is monitoring developments closely as the situation remains fluid, with conflicting reports emerging from the region. Further confirmation from independent sources is awaited.
*This report is based on the post by Doha News (@dohanews) and cross-verified with major international outlets including Al Jazeera, CNN, BBC, Reuters, and The New York Times.*
About The Author
