01 March,2026 11:05 AM IST | Tehran | mid-day online correspondent
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Pic/AFP
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has reportedly been killed in joint US-Israel airstrikes, according to Iranian state media, reported news agency IANS.
The report, citing sources and carried by Fars News Agency, claimed that four of Khamenei's relatives - including his daughter, grandchild, and son-in-law - were also killed in the strikes, reported IANS.
However, there has been no independent confirmation of these claims from international agencies or official Iranian authorities beyond state-linked outlets.
Former US President Donald Trump, in a post on Truth Social, also claimed that Khamenei had been killed in coordinated US-Israeli operations.
Describing the development as a "single greatest chance" for Iranians to reclaim control of their country, Trump said the strike was "justice" for victims of Iran's policies. He further claimed that Iranian leadership and security forces had been severely weakened,.
His remarks, however, have not been corroborated by official US government statements at this stage.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier indicated that there were "signs" suggesting Khamenei was no longer alive but did not explicitly confirm his death, reported IANS.
Netanyahu stated that Khamenei's compound had been destroyed in the strikes, adding to speculation surrounding the Iranian leader's fate.
If confirmed, the reported killing of Iran's Supreme Leader would mark a major escalation in the ongoing conflict and could have far-reaching geopolitical consequences across the Middle East and beyond.
Analysts warn that such a development could trigger heightened military tensions, retaliatory actions, and instability in the region.
Authorities and global observers are closely monitoring the situation as more details emerge and official confirmations are awaited.
The US and Israel clashed with Iran in the UN Security Council as Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that military action in the Middle East risks igniting uncontrollable "chain of events" in the world's most volatile region.
"We are witnessing a grave threat to international peace and security. Military action carries the risk of igniting a chain of events that no one can control in the most volatile region of the world," Guterres told the emergency meeting of the UN Security Council Saturday.
The powerful 15-nation UN body met just hours after the US and Israel launched military strikes against Iran and the subsequent attacks by Tehran.
Guterres condemned the massive military strikes by the US and Israel against Iran as well as attacks by Tehran "violating the sovereignty and territorial integrity" of Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
