Iran has confirmed the death of its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, with state media announcing he was killed in US and Israeli airstrikes on Tehran on Saturday (February 28, 2026).
With Khamenei dead, as well as several other key leaders in Iran, the region has been thrown into crisis with a leadership vacuum in Tehran, and a wave of retaliatory missiles en route for the US and its allies.
So here are five things you need to know in the immediate wake of Khamenei's death:
After several hours of conflicting reports, Iranian state media officially confirmed early Sunday morning (March 1) that the 86-year-old leader was killed in his Tehran compound during a joint US-Israeli strike.
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- The Announcement: A news anchor on Iranian state television broke the news to the embattled Middle Eastern nation, reading the following announcement on state-run TV.
“To the noble and proud people of Iran: With the ultimate grief and sorrow this is to inform you that following the barbaric attack by the criminal governments of America and the evil Zionist regime, the true example of faith, jihad and resistance, the Supreme Leader of the Revolution Grand Ayatollah Khamenei achieved the blessing of martyrdom,” the anchor said, as per AP.
- National Response: Iran has declared 40 days of public mourning and a seven-day public holiday in the wake of Khamenei's death.
- Transition of Power: A council has formed to govern Iran after the death of the Supreme Leader. The council is made up of Iran’s sitting president, the head of the country’s judiciary and a member of the Guardian Council chosen by Iran’s Expediency Council'. Iran’s reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian and hard-line judiciary chief Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei are already on the three-person 'Assembly of Experts' “must, as soon as possible” pick a new supreme leader.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has since vowed a "ferocious" response to the "murderers" responsible for the death of the Supreme Leader. E
- Strikes on Israel and US Bases: Iran launched hundreds of drones and missiles targeting Israel - specifically Tel Aviv and Haifa - and US military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE.
- Regional Damage: Iranian missiles reportedly hit a high-rise in Bahrain and the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai. At least one death was reported in Tel Aviv following a missile strike on a building. This morning, AP reported several large explosions have been heard in Dubai's city centre on Sunday.
- Death toll this morning: Gulf Countries are dealing with a fresh round of retaliatory strikes from Iran, with witnesses in the United Arab Emirates and Qatar reporting a series of loud blasts, according to the ABC. The UAE and Qatar have been intercepting drones and missiles sent by Iran, while Dubai's now-closed international airport sustained damage in an attack. Bahrain's Interior Ministry took to social media to warned people to seek shelter amid ongoing Iranian attacks in the country.
- Exiled Royal Celebrates: The exiled crown prince of Iran has celebrated the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a social media post likening him to an "evil king". Reza Pahlavi – who has lived in the US since the 1979 revolution – shared on social media: “Ali Khamenei, the bloodthirsty despot of our time, the murderer of tens of thousands of Iran’s bravest sons and daughters, has been erased from the face of history. With his death, the Islamic Republic has in effect reached its end and will very soon be consigned to the dustbin of history.""
- Diplomatic Crisis: The UN Security Council called an emergency meeting in New York. Countries like Canad, New Zealand, and Australia expressed support for the strikes, while China and Russia condemning the attacks, with the Kremlin desscribing the strikes as "another unprovoked act of aggression".
- Humanitarian Toll: The Iranian Red Crescent reported that the initial waves of US-Israeli strikes killed over 200 people and injured more than 700 across 24 provinces.
- International Law Broken By All, says UN: Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres, Stephane Dujarric, has said the United States, Israel and Iran have all broken international law. In an interview aired on Australian TV, he said: "What we saw today is clearly and plainly, for all to see, a grave threat to international peace and security. All that being frustrating because last week, thanks to the efforts of Oman, we were seeing negotiations between the parties," Mr Dujarric said.
"I think what is at risk here is that it's already a very volatile region. The margin for the miscalculation is almost nonexistent. The risks are not only for civilians in the region but also globally."
My fellow compatriots,
Ali Khamenei, the bloodthirsty despot of our time, the murderer of tens of thousands of Iran’s bravest sons and daughters, has been erased from the face of history. With his death, the Islamic Republic has in effect reached its end and will very soon be… https://t.co/pm3ZXY9IYZ
— Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) February 28, 2026
The reaction inside Iran has been a divided one, reflecting the nation's deep internal fractures.
- Celebrations: Despite heavy internet restrictions, videos - many, however, unverified by offical sources - have made their way online purporting to be filmed cities like Tehran, Shiraz, and Isfahan, showing cheering and celebrating the end of Khamenei's 37-year rule.
- Grief and Anger: Supporters of the regime gathered in Tehran's Enghelab Square, dressed in black, to mourn the slaying of their Supreme Leader.
- Humanitarian Toll: The Iranian Red Crescent reports more than 200 deaths and 747 injuries in daylong attacks across 24 provinces since airsrtrikes by the US and Israel began on Saturday.
- Middle Eastern Airspaces Closed: Travellers have been stranded or diverted to other airports after Israel, Qatar, Syria, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain and the UAE have all closed their airspaces.
- Thousands Stranded: Emirates, Qatar Airways and Etihad typically have about 90,000 passengers per day passing through Middle Eastern airports, aviation analytics firm Cirium reports. All of whom are now stranded amid mass cancelations, delays, and diversions. Dubai International Airport is also closed, the world’s busiest international airport.
- Analyst issues travel warning: Airline industry analyst and president of Atmosphere Research Group Henry Harteveldt said, via AP: “For travellers, there’s no way to sugarcoat this... you should prepare for delays or cancellations for the next few days as these attacks evolve and hopefully end.”
