On Sunday morning, an Iranian state television anchor lowered his head and paused to compose himself before tearfully confirming that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in joint US-Israeli airstrikes.
The moment, broadcast live across the country, quickly became one of the most powerful images of the escalating conflict. Iran has since declared 40 days of national mourning and announced a week-long public holiday following the confirmation of Khamenei’s death.
Here’s the moment a tearful host on Iranian state TV confirmed this morning that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US and Israeli air strikes.
The Iranian government has announced 40 days of mourning and a week-long holiday to mark Khamenei’s death. https://t.co/OQSE4o2q8L pic.twitter.com/xpWTq0Yp3w
— Shayan Sardarizadeh (@Shayan86) March 1, 2026
Iranian state media reported that the Supreme Leader was killed in coordinated strikes. News agency IANS news agency, citing Iranian outlets, said four of his relatives, including his daughter, grandchild and son-in-law, were also killed in the attack.
The confirmation came hours after US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social claiming responsibility for the operation. He described the killing as the “single greatest chance” for Iranians to take back control of their country.
“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,” Trump wrote. He called the development “Justice for the people of Iran” and for “all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS.”
Trump said the Iranian leader could not escape “our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems,” adding that the United States had worked “closely with Israel.” He also claimed that several other leaders were killed in the operation.
In the same statement, Trump said members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), military and security forces were seeking immunity. “Now they can have Immunity, later they only get Death!” he wrote.
He further claimed that Iran had suffered extensive damage within a day of the strikes, saying the country had been “very much destroyed and, even, obliterated.”
Before Trump’s post, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had hinted at Khamenei’s fate. He said there were “many signs indicating Khamenei is no longer,” but stopped short of formally confirming his death. “Khamenei’s compound was destroyed,” Netanyahu said.
What Iran has announced so far
Iranian authorities have ordered 40 days of mourning across the country. Government offices will remain closed for a week as part of the official observance. State media continued special programming throughout the day, broadcasting tributes and messages from political and religious leaders.
The developments come amid heightened military tensions between Iran, the United States and Israel, with both sides exchanging strong statements as the situation unfolds.