Donald Trump says Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead
US President Donald Trump has said that Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei "is dead". Writing on his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump said the US and Israeli attack on Iran represented "the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country".But he said that “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!” Trump described Mr Khamenei as "one of the most evil people in history", claiming that his death was "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 also claimed that many of Iran's military and police "no longer want to fight, and are looking for immunity" from the US. “Now they can have immunity, later they only get death," he wrote.But Iranian authorities denied that Mr Khamenei was dead, saying on Saturday night that he was “safe and sound”.Iran has labelled Trump’s assertion that the Khamenei was dead as “psychological warfare” by the enemy.This image provided by Airbus shows the strike on Iranian Supreme Leader's compound on Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026 in Iran. (Pléiades Neo (c) Airbus DS 2026 via AP)Mr Khamenei has not been seen in public since US-Israel military operation against Iran began. Earlier, Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed Khamenei had died in an airstrike on his compound in Tehran. Celebrations on the streets of Iran have been captured on video footage circulating online following the unconfirmed reports of the Supreme Leader’s killing by US/Israeli strikes.Anti-government protests swept Iran in recent weeks, with a deadly crackdown on protesters in January by the State and an internet blackout.Some 108 people, including children, were killed in Israeli strikes on a girl’s school in Hormozgan city in southern Iran on Saturday, authorities there report.Retaliatory strikes reported across Middle East The sudden US-Israel offensive triggered Iranian retaliatory strikes across the Middle East, with explosions reported in Israel, Bahrain, Syria, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia.Irish people working in Abu Dhabi received multiple alerts to their mobile phones tonight, warning them to stay inside.One teacher told the Irish Examiner that tonight has been terrifying in the Gulf state with explosions and air defence action overhead.Iran is targeting the neighbouring Gulf states in retaliation as US allies with US military bases in the region.Mr Trump says the US had commenced “major combat operations in Iran” after the US assembled a vast fleet of fighter jets and warships in the region to try to pressure Iran into a deal over its nuclear programme.He claimed Tehran has continued to develop its nuclear programme and plans to develop missiles to reach the US. He acknowledged there could be American casualties in the conflict, saying “that often happens in war”.The violence quickly expanded with the Revolutionary Guard saying it had responded by launching a “first wave” of drones and missiles targeting Israel, where a nationwide warning was issued as the military said it was bringing down Iranian fire.Iran’s Foreign Ministry said the country “will not hesitate” in its response, adding: “The time has come to defend the homeland and confront the enemy’s military assault.”Smoke rises on the skyline after an explosion in Tehran, Iran, Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026.(AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)Bahrain said a missile attack had targeted the US Navy’s 5th Fleet headquarters in the island kingdom, witnesses heard sirens and explosions in Kuwait, home to US Army Central, and explosions were heard in Qatar.About 12 hours after the attacks began, the US military reported no US casualties and minimal damage at bases despite “hundreds of Iranian missile and drone attacks”.It said targets in Iran included Revolutionary Guard command facilities, air defence capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields.Iraq and the United Arab Emirates closed their air space and sirens sounded in Jordan. The UAE said one person had been killed by falling shrapnel and air defence fire was seen over its commercial hub Dubai.The Iranian-backed Houthis in Yemen vowed to resume attacks on Red Sea shipping routes and on Israel, according to two senior officials.Iran has said it has not enriched uranium since June, but it has blocked international inspectors from visiting the sites America bombed during a 12-day war then. Satellite photos analysed by the Associated Press have shown new activity at two of those sites, suggesting Tehran is trying to assess and potentially recover material there.Iran has a self-imposed limit on its ballistic missile programme, limiting their range to 1,240 miles. That puts all the Middle East and some of eastern Europe in their range.There is no public evidence of Iran seeking to have intercontinental ballistic missiles, though Washington has said its space programme could allow it to one day.President Donald Trump speaks at the Port of Corpus Christi in Corpus Christi, Texas, Friday, Feb. 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Michael Gonzalez)Tensions have soared in recent weeks as American warships moved into the region, and Mr Trump said he wanted a deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear programme. He saw an opportunity while the country struggles at home with growing dissent after nationwide protests.Iran had hoped to avert a war but maintains it has the right to enrich uranium and does not want to discuss other issues, like its long-range missile programme or support for armed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.But Mr Trump’s statement indicated the US was striking for reasons far beyond any nuclear ambitions, listing grievances stretching back to the beginning of the Islamic Republic.Mr Netanyahu said the attack aimed to “remove an existential threat posed” by Iran.“Our joint operation will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands,” he said.Targets in the Israeli campaign included Iran’s military, symbols of government and intelligence targets, according to an official source.Iran’s Revolutionary Guard had vowed to respond if attacked, including saying American military personnel and bases spread across the region would be targets.Explosions rocked Israel as the country worked to intercept incoming Iranian missiles. There was no immediate word on any damage or casualties.Several hospitals in Israel launched emergency protocols, including moving patients and operations to underground facilities.US embassies or consulates in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Israel posted on social media that they had told staff to shelter in place and recommended all Americans “do the same until further notice”.
