Former U.S. President Donald Trump announced on February 28 that Iran’s Supreme Leader, 86-year-old Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has been killed in a series of U.S.-Israeli military strikes. Trump described Khamenei as one of the “most evil people in history” and framed the incident as a form of justice for the Iranian people and others affected by his regime.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated, “This is the only and greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country.” He claimed that many members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other security forces no longer wish to fight and are seeking immunity from repercussions. He added, “Now they can have immunity, and then they will only get death!” Trump expressed hope that the IRGC would align with Iranian patriots to restore the nation’s glory.
Trump also indicated that the military operations would continue intensively for a week or as long as necessary to achieve peace in the Middle East and beyond. However, as of the evening of February 28, there was no confirmation from Tehran regarding Khamenei’s reported death.
Khamenei has held near-dictatorial power in Iran since becoming Supreme Leader in 1989, following the death of the Islamic Republic’s founder, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Earlier in the day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested that there were “many signs” indicating Khamenei’s likely death due to the coordinated strikes.
In a video statement, Netanyahu noted that the morning attacks resulted in the deaths of IRGC commanders and high-ranking officials involved in Iran’s nuclear program. The strikes were characterized by Israel as a “preventive action,” and shortly thereafter, Trump declared that the U.S. had initiated “large-scale military operations” against Iran.
Reports from Iranian media indicated explosions in several cities, including Tehran, Tabriz, Isfahan, Qom, Lorestan, and Chabahar, targeting the highest echelons of Iranian leadership. In response, the IRGC launched waves of drones and ballistic missiles towards Israel, as well as strikes on various countries in the Middle East hosting U.S. military bases, including Bahrain, the UAE, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia.
This escalation comes just days after nuclear negotiations between the U.S. and Iran, raising questions about the future of talks scheduled for the following week in Vienna, especially as Washington increases its military presence in the region.
Donald Trump has claimed that Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes, framing it as justice for the Iranian people. The situation escalated with military responses from both sides, raising concerns over ongoing nuclear negotiations.