Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Death Reported by Iranian Media as 40 Days of Mourning Declared
February 28, 2026 – 8:55 PM
Iranian state media reported early Sunday that Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead, marking a historic turning point for the Islamic Republic amid escalating tensions following recent US-Israel strikes.
The state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) confirmed that Iran’s Supreme Leader had died but did not provide details regarding the cause of death. The agency reported that the government has declared 40 days of public mourning.
The semi-official Tasnim News Agency, which is affiliated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also reported that Khamenei died in the attack.
Prior to the confirmation from Tehran, U.S. President Donald Trump said Khamenei had been killed, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated there were “growing signs” the Iranian leader was “gone.”
Khamenei, 86, had ruled Iran since 1989 and maintained firm control over the country’s political, military, and religious institutions for more than three decades.
The confirmation of Khamenei’s death could have profound implications for Iran’s leadership structure and the broader Middle East conflict.
Source: CBS News