Fact Check: Was Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei killed in Israeli-backed UAE airstrike?

TEHRAN, IRAN: A viral post claims that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was killed in an airstrike reportedly carried out by the United Arab Emirates with Israeli support.

The claim comes amid continued tensions between Iran, the US and Israel, as well as rising tensions between Iran and Gulf countries. Recent reports have also drawn attention to Khamenei’s limited public appearances, fueling online speculation about his health and whereabouts. Let’s fact-check the claim.

Claim: Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei killed in airstrike

The rumor began with an X user, JulianAssange2, who shared it as breaking news. The post stated, “BREAKING: Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei KILLED in Airstrike.”

It then claimed, “With Israeli support, the United Arab Emirates just launched a devastating airstrike on a high-level Iranian military base, killing Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei on the spot.”

Mojtaba Khamenei became Iran’s supreme leader after his father, Ali Khamenei, was killed in a US-Israeli strike in February 2026. The post included a photo of Mojtaba Khamenei along with a video showing an explosion at a structure in a rural area, followed by fire and smoke.

The ongoing conflict between Iran, the US and Israel began on February 28 with strikes that killed Ali Khamenei and several senior Iranian officials.

The fighting later involved periods of strikes, ceasefires and attacks, with tensions also linked to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, oil sanctions and naval blockades.

The post had received more than 406K views at the time of writing. Some users questioned whether the claim was real. One user asked, “Is this true?” Another wrote, “Really.”

Fact Check: The claim is false

The claim is false. There is no credible evidence that Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was killed in a UAE airstrike with Israeli support on or around August 21, 2026.

Mojtaba Khamenei survived the earlier attack that killed his father, Ali Khamenei, in February 2026. Reports said he suffered injuries in that attack, including wounds to his leg and shrapnel injuries to his limbs and face. 

The Assembly of Experts selected him as Iran’s supreme leader around March 8, 2026, and he remains in the position.

Mojtaba has largely stayed out of public view since becoming supreme leader, reportedly because of his injuries and security concerns. 

However, official statements and decrees continue to be issued in his name. Israeli officials have also said he remains alive in Tehran and is “managing to function in one way or another.” 

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also said after a meeting around August 11 that Mojtaba was in good health.

Similar unverified claims about Mojtaba’s death have circulated since February 2026. However, no credible evidence supports the latest claim that he was killed in a UAE airstrike. 

Although Iran and the UAE have faced tensions during the broader conflict, there is no reliable reporting confirming that such an attack killed Mojtaba.