WASHINGTON D.C March 1, 2026 – Prominent Iranian-American journalist and human rights activist Masih Alinejad has called on Iranians worldwide to take to the streets in celebration following the confirmed killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in joint U.S.-Israeli airstrikes.
In a powerful video message featured by CBS News, Alinejad directly addressed anti-war protesters in the United States:
“My fellow citizens, take to the street to celebrate the killing of a terrorist because this is not about politics. This is all about normal life. Having dignity for Iranians. We share the same values.”
Alinejad, a longtime critic of the Iranian regime who has survived multiple alleged assassination plots by Tehran, framed Khamenei’s death — confirmed by Iranian state media on Saturday — as a historic moment of justice and hope for ordinary Iranians.
Khamenei, 86, who ruled Iran since 1989, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on his Tehran compound during a major U.S.-Israeli military operation. Iranian state television announced his “martyrdom,” declared 40 days of national mourning, and vowed retaliation. U.S. President Donald Trump hailed the strikes as a step toward regime change and lasting peace in the Middle East.
Reports from across the Iranian diaspora show jubilant scenes in cities including Los Angeles, New York, and Berlin, with crowds waving pre-revolutionary flags, singing, and chanting in support of freedom.
The strikes have escalated tensions in the region, with Iran launching retaliatory missiles and the international community bracing for further developments.
Life News Agency will continue monitoring this rapidly evolving story.
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