Iran supreme leader Ayatollah Khamenei dies, killed in joint US–Israeli attack
France 24
by Marc DAOUMarch 1, 2026
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died at the age of 86 in a major attack on Iran launched by Israel and the United States, state media confirmed. As the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran since 1989, Khamenei was at the heart of the regime’s hardline positions on an Islamic society which persisted despite domestic discontent and protests. His foreign policy decisions made him a key player in the tumultuous politics of the Middle East, earning him some allies and many powerful foes.
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Originally published on France 24 on 3/1/2026