Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei Killed in US-Israeli Strike, Trump Claims – Tehran Yet to Confirm
Tehran/Tel Aviv | March 1, 2026 | DeccanLive.com
US President Donald Trump has claimed that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed, saying he failed to escape American intelligence and advanced tracking systems.
In a post on his social media platform, Trump stated that Khamenei “could not evade our intelligence and modern tracking system” and alleged that he had been killed. However, Iranian authorities have not officially confirmed his death.
At the same time, the Israeli military has claimed that Iran’s top defense leadership has been eliminated in recent strikes. According to Israeli sources, those reportedly killed include Iran’s Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh, senior security adviser Ali Shamkhani, and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander Mohammad Pakpour. There has been no official confirmation from Tehran regarding these claims either.
Conflicting Reports After Strike on Leader’s Compound
Reports about Khamenei’s status began circulating after a reported Israeli-American strike targeted a compound linked to his office early Saturday morning. Satellite images show heavy damage to the complex.
Shortly after the attack, Iranian officials said that Khamenei had been moved to a safe location. Later, Iranian media reported that he would soon address the nation on state television, but no such address took place.
On Saturday evening, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a televised speech that the Supreme Leader “is no longer there.” However, he did not clearly state that Khamenei had been killed.
Meanwhile, several Israeli and American media outlets published reports citing unnamed senior officials who claimed that Khamenei had died. Iranian authorities have repeatedly denied these reports.
A presenter on Iranian state television, without mentioning Khamenei by name, urged the public to ignore what he called “enemy psychological propaganda.”
Possible Political Impact in Iran
There is speculation that Iranian authorities may be preparing an official announcement. It is also possible that the Assembly of Experts — the body responsible for appointing a new Supreme Leader — may already be meeting or preparing to meet in case a leadership transition becomes necessary.
If confirmed, the reported death of Khamenei would mark a major turning point in Iran’s history and could further escalate tensions between Iran, Israel, and the United States.
