Trump claims Iran’s supreme leader is dead after US-Israel strikes
Donald Trump has claimed Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, is dead following large-scale US and Israeli strikes across the country, including an apparent attack on the cleric’s compound in Tehran.
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There has been no confirmation from Iranian authorities that Khamenei has been killed. Iranian state media said he remained “steadfast and firm in commanding the field”, while foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said he was “not in a situation to confirm anything” regarding the leader’s status.
The claim came hours after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Khamenei’s compound had been destroyed in what he described as “a powerful, surprise strike”.
“We destroyed the compound of the tyrant Khamenei in the heart of Tehran,” Netanyahu said in a televised address. “There are many signs that the tyrant himself is no more.”
Trump later wrote on Truth Social: “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead.” He added that US intelligence and “Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems” had worked closely with Israel during the operation.
Explosions reported across Iran
Shortly after 09:30 local time (06:00 GMT) on Saturday, Iranian media reported explosions in central Tehran. Images showed smoke rising above Jomhouri Square and Hassan Abad Square.
Blasts were also reported in Karaj, near the capital, as well as Isfahan and Qom in central Iran, and Kermanshah in the west.
Footage verified by the BBC showed explosions within roughly 1km (0.6 miles) of Leadership House, Khamenei’s official compound, which holds symbolic and operational significance as the seat of Iran’s highest authority. Satellite imagery reviewed by the broadcaster appeared to show blackened structures, debris and a column of smoke rising from the area.
It was not immediately clear whether Khamenei was present at the time of the strikes.
Videos circulating on social media showed people running from impacted areas amid the sound of secondary explosions. The scale of casualties, if any, has not been independently confirmed.
Iran launches retaliatory strikes
Iran responded by launching missiles and drones toward Israel and four Gulf states that host US military bases: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Regional authorities said they were assessing damage and monitoring incoming projectiles. There were no immediate confirmed reports of casualties from the retaliatory wave, but officials described the situation as fluid.
The escalation marks one of the most direct confrontations between Iran, the United States and Israel in recent years and raises concerns of a broader regional conflict.
Airspace closures and flight cancellations
The unfolding crisis has disrupted air travel across the Middle East.
Of approximately 4,218 flights scheduled to land in the region on Saturday, 966 were cancelled, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. By Sunday, 716 of 4,329 scheduled departures had already been scrapped.
Several airlines suspended operations to affected destinations. British Airways cancelled flights to Tel Aviv and Bahrain until Wednesday and offered passengers free rebooking or refunds. Swiss International Air Lines and other Lufthansa Group carriers halted flights to Tel Aviv, Beirut, Amman, Erbil and Tehran until 7 March.
Kuwait’s aviation authority suspended flights to Iran indefinitely. Iraq and Jordan closed their airspace entirely, while the UAE said it had “partially and temporarily” restricted its airspace as a precaution.
The UK Foreign Office updated its travel advice for Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Yemen, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Oman, urging travellers to remain vigilant and follow local authority guidance.
Uncertainty over Khamenei’s status
Despite the statements from Trump and Netanyahu, Iranian officials have not confirmed the death of Khamenei, who has led the Islamic Republic since 1989 and holds ultimate authority over the country’s military and political institutions.
With missile exchanges ongoing and airspace closures spreading, the region remains on high alert. Independent verification of Khamenei’s status and the full impact of the strikes is still pending.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now · Source · 28 Feb 2026
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