Tehran, Iran. A senior Israeli official told Reuters on Saturday that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in Israeli and U.S. strikes. There was no immediate Iranian confirmation of his fate.
Strikes and wider conflict
The United States and Israel carried out military strikes on Iran on Saturday, targeting its top leaders and escalating a conflict in the Middle East. President Donald Trump said the action would end a security threat to the United States and give Iranians a chance to topple their rulers.
Khamenei’s role and tenure
Khamenei, 86, became Iran’s highest authority in 1989 after the death of Islamic Republic founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. As supreme leader, he held ultimate control over Iran’s political, military and religious institutions, shaping domestic policy and guiding foreign relations.
Israel’s view and the June 2025 war
Israel long described Khamenei as a destabilizing force in the Middle East, citing his backing for Iran’s network of militant allies, including Palestinian Hamas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. During a 12-day air war between Israel and Iran in June 2025, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz threatened to assassinate him, saying the supreme leader “cannot continue to exist.”
The war included a surprise Israeli strike that hit Iran’s underground nuclear site, killed senior commanders and nuclear scientists, and wiped out much of Iran’s military leadership. Khamenei’s death would be another blow to a country already affected by war and economic hardship.
Domestic policy and protests
Khamenei maintained the conservative vision of Khomeini and moved to curb elected presidents who sought more open policies at home and abroad. Under his rule, authorities repeatedly crushed protests and sidelined reformists who pushed for less confrontation with the West.
Regional influence and the nuclear deal
Iran expanded its influence across the Middle East under Khamenei and became a major regional anti-U.S. force. He backed the 2015 nuclear deal brokered with world powers and pragmatist President Hassan Rouhani, which briefly eased Iran’s isolation. Tensions increased after Trump abandoned the accord in 2018 and reimposed sanctions.
Setbacks for Iran’s allies
Since the Hamas-led attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, Iran’s allies have been weakened, according to the report. Hamas and Hezbollah suffered heavy blows from Israel, while Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, long supported by Tehran, was toppled in December 2024.
Supreme Leader role and succession mechanism
The post of Supreme Leader was created after Iran’s 1979 revolution and established in the constitution, granting 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.
What impact do you think the reported killing of Khamenei could have on Iran’s leadership and the wider region?