Trump Says Iran at Crossroads After Strikes, Claims Supreme Leader Khamenei Is Dead

New Delhi | 1 March 2026 US President Donald Trump said that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead, calling it a historic moment and what he described as the “single greatest chance” for the Iranian people to reclaim their country. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the development followed recent US-Israel military strikes and warned that operations would continue if required. In his message, Trump wrote, "Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead," and described the moment as justice for Iranians as well as for Americans and others he said were harmed during Khamenei’s rule. He claimed the Iranian leader could not escape US intelligence systems and said the operation was carried out while “working closely with Israel.” Trump also stated that several other senior Iranian leaders were killed in the same operation. Trump further said the situation marks a turning point for Iran, adding that it is “the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.” He claimed some members of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard and security forces were seeking immunity and warned that continued resistance would bring severe consequences. He also signalled continued military pressure, saying “heavy and pinpoint bombing” would go on “as long as necessary” to achieve what he called peace in the region. Reports on the ground, however, remained conflicting. A senior Israeli official told news agency that Khamenei’s body had been recovered from the rubble after a strike on his compound in Tehran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier said the compound was destroyed during the operation. Satellite images also showed heavy damage at the site. At the same time, Iranian state-linked agencies denied the claims, reporting that Khamenei was still alive and “steadfast and firm in commanding the field.” A post from Khamenei’s X account also appeared online, adding to the uncertainty. Iranian media acknowledged large-scale damage in Tehran but did not officially confirm his death at the time. Sources cited by news agency said several top Iranian officials, including Defence Minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Pakpour, were killed in the strikes. Israeli media also reported that a photograph of Khamenei’s body was shown to both Trump and Netanyahu. As tensions rise across the Middle East, the situation remains fluid, with governments and media worldwide closely watching further developments. Trump Claims Turning Point for Iran After Strikes, Says Khamenei Is Dead US President Donald Trump claimed on social media that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been killed following recent military strikes. Calling it a historic moment, Trump described the development as the “single greatest chance” for the Iranian people to take back control of their country after decades of strict rule. In a post, Trump wrote, "Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead," and said the operation was carried out with close coordination between the United States and Israel. He claimed that advanced intelligence systems were used and added that several other senior Iranian leaders were also killed in the strikes. Trump further warned that US military action would continue if required, saying "heavy and pinpoint bombing" would go on until stability is restored. He stressed that the goal of the operations was long-term peace in the Middle East and global security, while acknowledging that military actions always carry risks. However, the situation remains unclear as Iranian state media initially denied the reports and said the Supreme Leader was still alive. Conflicting statements, online posts from Khamenei’s official account, and ongoing regional tensions have added to the uncertainty, with global attention focused on further developments.