Trump confirms Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei's death after US-Israel strike

WASHINGTON, DC: US President Donald Trump on Saturday, February 28, confirmed the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader  Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, describing the development as an act of justice and a pivotal moment for Iran.

Posting on Truth Social, the president wrote that Khamenei was unable to avoid "Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems," and that "working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do."

Trump says it is 'justice for the people of Iran'

“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS," Trump wrote.

He added that this was the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their country.

"We are hearing that many of their IRGC, Military, and other Security and Police Forces, no longer want to fight, and are looking for Immunity from us. As I said last night, ‘Now they can have Immunity, later they only get Death!’" Trump added.

"Hopefully, the IRGC and Police will peacefully merge with the Iranian Patriots, and work together as a unit to bring back the Country to the Greatness it deserves," he continued.

Trump further wrote, "That process should soon be starting in that, not only the death of Khamenei but the Country has been, in only one day, very much destroyed and, even, obliterated."

"The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!" he wrote.

President's confirmation comes after reports of Khamenei's death

This followed the president's interview on NBC News on Saturday, February 28, where he said that his administration believed that US-Israel strikes killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei earlier in the day.

“We feel that is a correct story,” Trump told NBC’s Kristen Welker, referring to emerging reports about Khamenei’s death. The president added that he believed “most” of Iran’s senior leadership had been eliminated.

“The people that make all the decisions, most of them are gone,” Trump said.

Trump suggests multiple Iranian leaders eliminated 

In a phone call with NBC News, Trump further asserted that “a large amount of leadership” had been killed in Saturday’s strikes.

“I don't mean like two people,” he added, without specifying a number.

When asked who might replace Khamenei, Trump responded, “I don’t know, but at some point they’ll be calling me to ask who I’d like.”

He quickly qualified the remark, saying, “I'm only being a little sarcastic when I say that.”

Israeli report claims Khamenei’s body recovered

The president’s comments came shortly after Israeli outlet N12 News reported that Khamenei had been killed.

Amit Segal, the network’s chief political analyst, posted on X that senior Israeli officials had been informed of Khamenei’s death.

“Senior officials in Israel were informed: Khamenei has been eliminated. His body was recovered from the ruins of his palace,” Segal wrote.

There was no immediate confirmation from Iranian authorities.

Benjamin Netanyahu urges Iranians to ‘topple this regime’

In a video address on Saturday afternoon, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appealed directly to the Iranian public, calling for regime change. He also said that Iran’s supreme leader is believed to be dead. 

“It’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity because soon there’s going to be a moment that you’ll have to go to the streets to complete this act and to topple this regime, this help that you were wishing for, help has arrived,” Netanyahu said.

He continued, “This is the time to go together for this mission. Citizens of Iran… all of you. It’s your time to unite and to topple this regime.”

The remarks marked one of the clearest public calls yet from Israel’s leadership urging internal political upheaval in Iran amid escalating military action and uncertainty over the future of its ruling establishment.