Trump and Iranian state media confirm the death of Supreme Leader Khamenei

People gather at a square to mourn the death of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in joint US and Israeli strikes, in Tehran on March 1, 2026. Picture: ATTA KENARE / AFP Thousands of mourners gathered on Sunday in the centre of Iran’s capital after the death of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to AFP journalists. The mourners, dressed mostly in black and some crying, chanted “death to America” and “death to Israel” in Enghelab Square, with many waving Iran’s flags and holding photos of Khamenei.

Iranian state television reported Khamenei’s death in the early hours of Sunday, broadcasting archive images with a black banner. Iranian media also reported the deaths of Khamenei’s daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter. US President Donald Trump also confirmed the death via his Truth Social platform “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead.

“Heavy and pinpoint bombing… will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST”, Trump wrote. Iranian state television announced a 40-day mourning period and seven public holidays following the ayatollah’s death. The country’s judiciary confirmed Sunday that the chief of the Revolutionary Guards, General Mohammad Pakpour, and another top security adviser, Ali Shamkhani were also “martyred” in the strikes. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said the campaign sent a message to those who would do harm to Americans: “We will hunt you down and we will kill you.” Reza Pahlavi, the son of Iran’s late shah, hailed the killing of Khamenei, saying the Islamic republic was entering the “dustbin of history.”