Tehran (dpa): Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead, according to Iranian state media. He was killed as a "martyr," the IRNA and Fars news agencies reported on Sunday (March 1). Earlier, US President Donald Trump had declared Khamenei dead, after the United States and Israel launched wide-ranging strikes on Iran. "Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead," Trump wrote on Truth Social, adding: "This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country." The assault, which killed more than 200 people according to the Red Crescent, triggered retaliatory strikes against Israel and US military forces based in the Middle East.

Source: The Star March 01, 2026 05:50 UTC