Trump says Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei is dead after US-Israel strikes | The IndependentNotifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload ourSocial PartnerWe are 8 logo (opens in a new tab)AllNewsSportCultureLifestyleBrendan RasciusSaturday 28 February 2026 22:01 GMTVideo shows moment US launches strikes on Iran from aircraft carrierPresident Donald Trump says Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead after the US and Israel struck his compound Saturday in a joint military operation.“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead,” the US president wrote. “This is not only justice for the people of Iran, but 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 continued, “He was unable to avoid our intelligence and highly sophisticated tracking systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do. This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country.“We are hearing that many of their IRGC, military, and other security and police forces, no longer want to fight, and are looking for immunity from us. ... The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!”Iran launched revenge strikes after the US and Israel’s joint operation Saturday, but US forces said they suffered no casualties and “minimal” damage that did not affect operations at military sites.In fullIran latest: Trump confirms supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei killed in US-Israeli strikesThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in