Iran Denies Reports of Supreme Leader Khamenei’s Death Amid US-Israel Strikes
Tehran, February 28, 2026 — Iranian officials have firmly denied claims that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in today’s major US-Israeli military strikes on Iran.
The attacks targeted high-level sites in Tehran, including Khamenei’s compound, where satellite imagery shows extensive damage, collapsed buildings, and smoke rising from the area. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated there are “growing signs” and “all indications” that Khamenei is “no longer” alive, while Israeli media outlets (such as Channel 12 and others) cited unnamed sources claiming he was likely killed or his body found.
However, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told NBC News that Khamenei is alive “as far as I know,” and that the supreme leader, along with President Masoud Pezeshkian and other top officials, remain safe and are managing the crisis. Iranian spokespeople described the death rumors as psychological warfare by Israel and emphasized leadership continuity despite losses among some commanders.
The situation remains unverified independently, with no public appearance by Khamenei yet amid ongoing retaliatory missile exchanges from Iran. The strikes have escalated regional tensions dramatically.
