Israel says Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been killed in a targeted strike carried out during the ongoing joint military operation by Israel and the United States.
An Israeli official said that Khamenei is dead, citing Israeli intelligence assessments. Israel’s ambassador to Washington also informed U.S. officials that the 86-year-old leader was killed in Saturday’s strikes. However, there has been no official confirmation from Iranian authorities.
Reuters reported that a senior Israeli official claimed Khamenei’s body had been found. Earlier, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were growing indications that Khamenei “is no longer with us,” referring to strikes on a compound in Tehran linked to the Iranian leader.
If confirmed, Khamenei’s death would mark a dramatic turning point in the conflict. He has led Iran since 1989, making him one of the world’s longest-serving rulers. As supreme leader, he held ultimate authority over Iran’s judiciary, state media, armed forces and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Israeli officials say other senior figures may also have been killed in Saturday’s attacks, including Iran’s defence minister and the commander of the IRGC. The strikes reportedly targeted key political and military sites across Tehran.
Khamenei’s reported death could trigger an immediate succession crisis. Under Iran’s constitution, a council of clerics is responsible for selecting a new supreme leader. However, Israeli strikes have also targeted top military and political leaders, potentially complicating the transition.
It remains unclear how the IRGC will respond or whether the situation could open space for internal unrest. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu has framed the military campaign as an opportunity for Iranians to “seize their fate.” U.S. President Donald Trump, in a video address, urged Iranians to remain indoors during the bombing but later “take over your government” once operations conclude.
Iran’s exiled former crown prince, Reza Pahlavi, also called on Iranians to mobilize and urged security forces to side with the public rather than the current leadership.
Khamenei rose to power after the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989 and consolidated broad control over Iran’s political and security institutions over three decades. His leadership saw repeated crackdowns on dissent and mass protests.
As of now, Tehran has not issued an official statement confirming his death.
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