Overnight, large crowds of Iranians poured into the streets of Tehran and other Iranian cities, celebrating the news that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had been killed during a day of coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes. Early figures on casualties indicated that more than 100 people in Iran had been killed in the first wave of strikes. Celebrations in Tehran neighborhoods: dancing, honking, and fireworksDespite the danger, pockets of intense excitement appeared across different parts of the capital. “Then we ran outside and screamed at the top of our lungs, laughed, and danced with our neighbors,” Sara said. Meanwhile, with communications disruptions and the strikes continuing, it remained difficult to assess how widespread these feelings were across the country.

Source: New York Times March 01, 2026 11:47 UTC