BREAKING: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead, Iranian state media reports.

 

BREAKING: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead, Iranian state media reports. https://t.co/wqnEZUFOM3

— The Associated Press (@AP) March 1, 2026

Here's the English version of the summary regarding the AP post you linked 

@AP

:The Associated Press (@AP

) breaking news post from March 1, 2026 (early morning UTC):BREAKING: Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead, Iranian state media reports.

https://apnews.com/live/live-updates-israel-iran-february-28-2026

This announcement came after intense developments over the previous days:On February 28, 2026, a major joint US-Israeli airstrike campaign targeted Iranian military and leadership sites, including in Tehran.

Initial reports from Israeli officials and later from US President Donald Trump claimed Khamenei had been killed in the strikes.

Iranian state media (IRIB, Fars News, IRNA, etc.) officially confirmed his death early on March 1, describing it as "martyrdom" in his office during the attacks. They announced 40 days of national mourning.

Khamenei, aged 86 and in power since 1989, was killed in a precision strike described as a decapitation operation against Iran's top leadership.

Key context and immediate aftermath:The strikes also targeted Iran's nuclear facilities, missile sites, and IRGC command centers. Iran retaliated with missile barrages toward Israel and threatened US bases.

Iran's Cabinet and IRGC vowed severe revenge, calling it a "great crime" that "will never go unanswered" and promising the "most ferocious offensive operation in history."

Reactions were sharply divided:Some Iranians (especially opposition groups and diaspora communities) celebrated, with videos showing crowds cheering his death.

Regime supporters mourned; state TV anchors were visibly emotional while reading the announcement.

Internationally: Russia condemned the strikes as aggression; the UN called for de-escalation; Australia and others backed the US/Israel actions.

No clear immediate successor has emerged (Ebrahim Raisi, once seen as a likely replacement, died in 2024). A temporary council appears to be governing.

This event marks one of the most dramatic escalations in the Middle East in decades, with the future of Iran's regime now in serious question.If you'd like more details on any specific aspect (reactions, military updates, visuals, etc.), let me know!