New York, March 1 — US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed in a coordinated strike by the United States and Israel, an attack the report says could mark an inflection point in Iran’s decades-long theocratic rule. Tehran responded with widespread missile and drone strikes across the region, sending the Middle East into chaos while Iran has not confirmed Khamenei’s death and the full toll and leadership consequences remain unclear.
Trump, posting on Truth Social, said the 86-year-old cleric “was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do.” The announcement said other civilian and military leaders may also have been killed, but details were not available.
Iran’s retaliation, according to reports, included strikes against Israel, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and Kuwait. Iran’s state media quoted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as claiming it had attacked a supply ship. United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres said his information indicated about 20 Iranian cities, including Tehran, Isfahan, Qom, Shahriar and Tabriz, were attacked. The strategic port of Chabahar-built with Indian cooperation-was reportedly hit, though it was not clear whether facilities tied to that project were targeted.
Casualty figures are disputed and incomplete. Iran’s IRNA cited a local official saying an Israeli missile struck a girls’ school in Minab, killing 57 students and injuring 60. Guterres put the reported death toll in Iran at 85 and said two were killed at a school in Tehran. Pakistan reported that one of its citizens was killed in the UAE. There were videos on X showing some Iranians celebrating reports of Khamenei’s death, but no signs of a widespread uprising.
Global leaders called for restraint. French President Emmanuel Macron said, “The escalation underway is dangerous for everyone. It must stop.” Guterres condemned the “military escalation in the Middle East,” saying the violence undermines international peace and security. China and Russia issued unequivocal condemnations. Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer said British forces were active as part of coordinated regional defensive operations.
India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, who has direct channels with both sides, spoke with Iran’s Seyed Abbas Araghchi and Israel’s Gideon Sa’ar, posting on X that he “shared India’s deep concern at the recent developments in Iran and the region” and reiterated “India’s call for dialogue and diplomacy to de-escalate tensions.” The strikes came two days after inconclusive Geneva talks mediated by Oman; Trump had said he was “unhappy” with negotiation outcomes, seeking a complete end to uranium enrichment, while Oman and Iran had earlier reported progress.
In a video announcing the operation, Trump urged Iranians to seize the moment, saying, “When we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take.” Reza Pahlavi, son of the deposed Shah, said he wanted to help “take back and rebuild Iran,” though he did not appear to have clear backing. The situation remains fluid, with widespread international concern, contested casualty reports and deep uncertainty over Iran’s political future.
Original Source: https://www.morungexpress.com/khamenei-killed-in-us-israeli-attack-marking-milestone-in-irans-theocratic-rule-regional-counterattacks-escalate
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Publish Date: 2026-03-01 07:25:00
