Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Reportedly Killed in U.S.-Israeli Strikes

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has reportedly been killed in Israeli and U.S. military strikes, Iran international confirmed.

The United States and Israel carried out military strikes on Iran on Saturday. The attacks targeted top Iranian leaders and key locations. The strikes have pushed the Middle East into a new and dangerous conflict. U.S. President Donald Trump said the operation would remove a security threat to the United States and give Iranians a chance to topple their rulers.

Khamenei was 86 years old. He became Iran’s highest authority in 1989 after the death of the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. As supreme leader, Khamenei had ultimate control over Iran’s political system, armed forces, and religious institutions. He shaped the country’s domestic policies and directed its foreign relations for more than three decades.

During his rule, Iran became a strong anti-U.S. force in the region. Khamenei expanded Iran’s military and political influence across the Middle East. Israel viewed him as a destabilizing force, accusing him of supporting armed groups hostile to Israel. These included the Palestinian group Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

In June 2025, Israel and Iran fought a 12-day air war. During that conflict, Israel launched a surprise strike that hit Iran’s underground nuclear site, killed senior military commanders and nuclear scientists, and destroyed much of the country’s military leadership. At that time, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz openly threatened to assassinate Khamenei, saying the supreme leader "cannot continue to exist." Khamenei’s reported killing now marks another major blow to Iran, which has already been struggling with war damage and serious economic hardship.

Khamenei followed the conservative path set by Khomeini. Over the years, he blocked efforts by elected presidents who wanted more open policies at home and better relations with Western countries. Authorities under his leadership suppressed repeated protests and limited the power of reformist politicians who pushed for less confrontation with the West.

Under Khamenei’s rule, Iran increased its regional influence and strengthened alliances with armed groups across the Middle East. In 2015, he supported a nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers. The deal was negotiated during the presidency of Hassan Rouhani and briefly reduced Iran’s isolation on the global stage. However, tensions rose again in 2018 when U.S. President Donald Trump withdrew from the agreement and reimposed sanctions on Iran.

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