Trump Says Iranian Supreme Leader Is Dead

Foreign Policy · Feb 28, 2026 · Collected from RSS

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Iran has not confirmed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s death. Khamenei waves while seated in a chair. Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appears among his supporters in Tehran in a photo released by the official website of the Supreme Leader’s Office on June 26, 2025. Office of the Supreme Leader of Iran via Getty Images Get audio access with any FP subscription. Subscribe Now ALREADY AN FP SUBSCRIBER? LOGIN February 28, 2026, 5:37 PM Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in Saturday’s strikes on the country, U.S. President Donald Trump announced in a social media post. “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that the Iranian leader was “unable to avoid” U.S. and Israeli intelligence and tracking systems and that “there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do.” Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in Saturday’s strikes on the country, U.S. President Donald Trump announced in a social media post. “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding that the Iranian leader was “unable to avoid” U.S. and Israeli intelligence and tracking systems and that “there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do.” Iran has not confirmed Khamenei’s death, with the country’s semi-official news agencies Tasnim and Mehr reporting less than two hours before Trump’s post that the supreme leader was “steadfast and firm in commanding the field.” Khamenei’s death would mark the end of his 36-year hold on power in the Islamic Republic. “This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country,” Trump wrote. “We are hearing that many of their IRGC [Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps], Military, and other Security and Police Forces, no longer want to fight, and are looking for Immunity from us.” Trump did not specify whether it was a U.S. strike that killed Khamenei or an Israeli one. Though Khamenei was said to have had a succession plan in place, it’s not immediately clear who would take over leadership in Iran if he is dead. Ali Larijani, the country’s top national security official, has been floated as one possible replacement. But the CIA also reportedly assessed before the strikes that IRGC hard-liners could step in if Khamenei were killed. Mojtaba Khamenei, one of the Iranian leader’s sons, is also seen as a possible successor and reportedly survived after being targeted by Israeli forces. Other top Iranian officials, including Defense Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and IRGC commander Mohammed Pakpour, were reportedly killed in the ongoing joint operation. Earlier in the day, when asked who would replace Khamenei, Trump told NBC News, “I don’t know, but at some point, they’ll be calling me to ask who I’d like.” “I’m only being a little sarcastic when I say that,” he added. The Middle East is now in the midst of a new conflict with a great deal of uncertainty swirling around it and open questions such as how long the fighting will last. Trump wrote in his Truth Social post that the “heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!” Since the U.S. and Israeli bombing campaign began, Iran has retaliated with attacks on Israel and U.S. military bases in countries throughout the region. This is a developing story and will be updated. This post is part of FP’s ongoing coverage. Read more here. This post appeared in FP's The Reading List newsletter. Sign up here. Military United States Iran Middle East and North Africa Rishi Iyengar John Haltiwanger Read More Mourners carry a portrait of Iran's supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during the passage of the funeral of Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi through Tehran on May 22, 2024. Iran Is Built to Withstand the Ayatollah’s Assassination The U.S. and Israeli militaries are targeting Iran’s leaders—but that may only strengthen the state. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks at a podium at the European Union headquarters in Brussels. World Leaders, U.S. Lawmakers React to U.S. Strikes on Iran Early views fell along ideological lines as the international community waits for damage reports. 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