Philosopher on the Throne: Iran's Supreme Leader assassinated

Iran's Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in U.S. and Israeli strikes on his residence in Tehran on February 28, 2026. Iranian state media confirmed this information on the morning of March 1. Who Seyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei will remain in the history of Iran — read in the Izvestia article.

The death of Ayatollah Khamenei — details of death, biography

Iran's state television has officially reported that the 86-year-old supreme leader "suffered a martyr's death" during airstrikes by the United States and Israel. It turned out that his residence in the heart of Tehran had turned into ruins in the early morning of February 28, when the US-Israeli operation was just gaining momentum.

Seyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei was born on April 19, 1939 in Mashhad, Khorasan province. In 1962, he joined the revolutionary movement in Qom, joining the banner of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini against the Shah's regime. Already in 1963, he was arrested during the Uprising of the 15th Khordad. There were years of persecution, torture, and exile ahead.

After the triumph of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, Khamenei contributed to the creation of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), where he assumed command and duties as Deputy Defense Minister. He was elected to the Mejlis, led Friday prayers in Tehran, and was on the fronts of the Iran-Iraq war of 1980-1988 more than once.

In 1981, after the death of Mohammad Ali Rajai, Khamenei assumed the post of President of Iran, having been successfully re-elected for a second term, and headed the Supreme Defense Council. And in 1989, in the wake of Khomeini's departure, the Iranian Assembly of Experts (Majlis-e Hebregan) presented him with the mantle of Supreme leader of the Islamic Republic. Thus began 37 years of his rule as rahbar (supreme leader).

The Road to spiritual Growth

Ayatollah Khamenei chose the path of asceticism, rejecting ostentatious lifestyle in order to serve as an example of simplicity for the people. A modest home, prayers, books, and conversations with ordinary people are his daily routine, far from luxury.

His family meant a lot to him: four sons and two daughters absorbed strict Islamic precepts following his example. In his understanding, the father's role is the transfer of moral principles, and the personal role should be hidden from outside attention.

Culture and poetry always touched his soul. Under the pseudonym "Min Khosrow Shirazi" he wrote poetry about love, faith and homeland. His youth was spent studying the heritage of Persian poets. He loved chess, and he considered this game a road to spiritual growth.

In recent years, Khamenei has maintained a cheerful demeanor, despite the injury left from the 1981 assassination attempt that bound his right arm.

He always emphasized the priority of Islamic justice: "Islam is a religion of mercy and justice, where the authority of the faqih embodies the divine will on earth." He argued about the steadfastness of faith as follows: "Jihad is a struggle against oneself and the enemies of Islam, leading to eternal salvation through submission to Allah."

The reaction of world leaders and public figures

Iranian President Masoud Peseshkian, who came to power in the summer of 2024, called Khamenei's murder a crime that will not go unpunished and "will open a chapter in the annals of Shiism."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the death of the Ayatollah a loss for the Muslim Ummah and condemned the attacks as a heinous manifestation of Western aggression. The head of Hezbollah, Hassan Nasrallah, warned the West that "resistance will increase."

Yemeni leader Mohammed Ali al-Houthi expressed sorrow, calling Khamenei a pillar for the poor, whose course will continue. The Hamas representative promised the United States and Israel a joint "onslaught against the occupiers."

The Iranian government has declared 40 days of mourning and seven days of public holidays.

What will happen next: who can succeed him

The country will be led by the Transitional Council, which includes Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, head of the judiciary Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei and a member of the Guardian Council. Ayatollah Arafi has been appointed as a lawyer-member of the council, who is charged with temporarily acting as the Supreme Leader, ISNA news agency reports.

According to article 111 of the Iranian Constitution, in the event of the death of the Supreme Leader, the Council of Experts must elect a new supreme leader as soon as possible.

According to Ali Larijani, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, the council of experts will be assembled on March 1 and will begin work immediately.

Among the potential successors mentioned are Khamenei's son Mojtab Khamenei, who is close to the IRGC, Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani, Chairman of the Expediency Council Sadiq Larijani, politician and theologian Mohammad Mirbagheri, theologian Mohsen Araki, as well as Hassan Khomeini, grandson of the founder of the republic.

On February 22, The New York Times, citing senior IRGC sources, reported that Khamenei had ordered the development of an action plan in case of his assassination and a potential malfunction in the country's governance system in the event of a military conflict with the United States. According to the newspaper, Rahbar transferred part of the powers to a narrow circle of trusted persons and instructed to create a multi-stage succession system.