Ayatollah Ali Khamenei confirmed dead by Iran in US-Israel strikes, 40-days mourning announced

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died following a major attack by Israel and the United States, Iranian state media confirmed early on Sunday (March 1, 2026). President Donald Trump previously announced the death, saying it gave Iranians their “greatest chance” to “take back” their country.

Council ​of ‌Iranian President, ⁠Head ‌of ‌the ‌Judiciary, ⁠and ⁠one ​of ‌the jurists ‌of ​the Guardian ⁠Council ‌are to



‌temporarily ​assume duties ⁠of ⁠leadership ‌in ​Iran, according to the IRNA news agency.

The Iranian goevrnment also announced 40 days of mourning following the killing of Khamenei.

Iranian state television and the state-run IRNA news agency did not report a cause of death for the 86-year-old. The assassination put the future of the Islamic Republic in doubt and raised the risk of regional instability.