How long will it last? Will it grow? What will the conflict and the reported death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei mean to us, and to global security overall? Those questions echoed across the Middle East and the planet on Saturday (February 28, 2026) as world leaders reacted warily to U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on social media that Khamenei was dead, calling it “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.” Iranian state media said early Sunday (March 1, 2026) the 86-year-old leader had died without elaborating on a cause.
Iran-Israel conflict LIVE: Iran Guards vow ‘most ferocious offensive operation’ against U.S. bases, Israel after Khamenei killed
Israeli officials previously told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity that Khamenei was dead. And Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a televised address, said there were “growing signs” that Khamenei had been killed when Israel struck his compound early Saturday (February 28, 2026).
Iran vs Israel | Chronicles of a war foretold
