Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei killed, senior Israeli official saysFILE PHOTO: Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei speaks during a meeting in Tehran, Iran, February 1, 2026. As supreme leader, he held ultimate control over Iran's political, military and religious institutions, shaping domestic policy and guiding foreign relations. When Israel and Iran fought a 12-day air war in June 2025, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened to assassinate him, saying the supreme leader "cannot continue to exist." The post of Supreme Leader was created after the 1979 revolution and enshrined in Iran's constitution, giving a top cleric ultimate authority ‌over the president and parliament. ⁠The Assembly of Experts, an 88-member clerical body ​vetted by a hardline watchdog aligned with Khamenei, formally selects the leader.

Source: Bangkok Post February 28, 2026 22:18 UTC