‘Growing indications’- Is Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei dead?

By Tolulope Oke

Reports have emerged claiming that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, may have been killed during the first wave of joint US and Israeli missile strikes on Tehran on Saturday, 28 February 2026.

According to Israeli media outlet Channel 12, unnamed sources indicated “growing indications” that Khamenei was either killed or “hurt at the very least” during the attacks, which reportedly targeted areas close to his offices in Tehran. Israeli officials also suggested that the strikes inflicted significant damage to Iranian regime leaders and military commanders.

Some reports claimed that Khamenei’s palace and compound in Tehran were destroyed in the operation, and initial intelligence suggested he may have been moved to a secure location.

However, conflicting statements emerged from Iran. In an exclusive interview with NBC News, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Khamenei is still alive “as far as I know.” He added that two commanders died in the strikes, but senior officials, including the head of the judiciary and the parliament speaker, survived.

“All high-ranking officials are alive,” Araghchi said. “So everybody is now in its position, and we are handling this situation, and everything is fine.”

Araghchi also criticized the US and Israel for launching the attack despite ongoing nuclear negotiations. NBC News has not independently verified any of these claims.

The situation remains highly fluid, with conflicting reports continuing to circulate. International observers are monitoring Tehran closely as the Iranian government works to assess the full impact of the strikes on the regime’s leadership.