Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei was attacked and killed

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According to the local time on March 1, the chief Iranian leader Khamenei was assassinated and died on the morning of February 28.

Ali Khamenei was born in 1939 in Mashhad, Iran. He served as Iran’s president from 1981 to 1989 and has been the Supreme Leader of Iran since 1989. In June 1981, Khamenei was targeted in an assassination attempt that left his right arm paralyzed.

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On March 1, Iranian media reported that Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei was killed. Khamenei’s life has been closely linked to revolution and struggle, witnessing and participating in the Islamic Revolution, the Iran-Iraq War, nuclear negotiations, and other historic events. He has survived multiple crises including imprisonment, assassination attempts, and sanctions. Throughout the turbulent Middle East, he has always been a political strongman. According to Iranian media, the government has announced a 40-day national mourning period.

Born into a Religious Family

Met His Life Mentor

In April 1939, just before the outbreak of World War II, Khamenei was born into a religious family in Mashhad, Iran’s holy city. He was the second of eight siblings.

At age four, his father sent him and his brother to religious school to learn reading, writing, and the Quran.

As he grew older, he could have continued his studies at the religious school in Najaf, Iraq, but he chose to return to Iran to stay close to his parents.

Khamenei returned to the holy city of Qom in Iran to study advanced theology. Later, due to his father’s blindness, he interrupted his studies and went back home.

However, his experience in Qom was profoundly influential, as he met his lifelong mentor—Ayatollah Khomeini, the founder of the Iranian Islamic Revolution.

Facing Life-and-Death Crises

“No One Thought I Would Survive”

In the 1960s, young Khamenei followed Khomeini and joined the fight against the secular monarchy. During Khomeini’s exile in Iraq, he persisted in spreading Khomeini’s ideas within Iran. Khamenei was arrested and imprisoned six times.

In 1979, the Islamic Revolution erupted in Iran, overthrowing the Pahlavi dynasty, and Khomeini became the Supreme Leader. Khamenei held key positions such as acting Minister of Defense and commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

In June 1981, an opposition group attempted to assassinate Khamenei. During a press conference, a bomb hidden inside a tape recorder exploded, severely injuring his chest, shoulder, and right hand, which was permanently disabled.

Khamenei later recalled, “After the attack, my situation was very dire because no one believed I would survive.”

Ultimately, Khamenei not only survived this life-threatening crisis but also experienced a major turning point in his political career within a few months.

In August 1981, Iran’s second president, Mohammad-Ali Rajai, was assassinated. In October of the same year, Khamenei was appointed President of Iran.

Presidential Term During the Iran-Iraq War

“Boldly Proposed a Ceasefire”

Khamenei’s presidency was tested by war.

In 1980, Iran and Iraq went to war. The conflict lasted eight years and caused severe damage to Iran’s economy.

Typically cautious, Khamenei took a bold step: he and another politician, Rafsanjani, jointly wrote to Khomeini, urging him to end the Iran-Iraq War quickly for the sake of the regime’s interests.

This move drew fierce criticism from parliament and conservative factions within the government, threatening his political standing. However, ultimately, Khomeini decided to accept the United Nations Security Council resolution and agreed to a ceasefire.

In June 1989, Khomeini passed away. Subsequently, Khamenei was elected by the Assembly of Experts as Iran’s Supreme Leader.

Advocating for Iran’s Isolation and Engagement with the West

Never Stopped “Fighting” the U.S.

As Khomeini’s successor, Khamenei was naturally conservative. But he also believed that Iran’s government should adapt to the times and implement necessary reforms. He advocated for Iran to break its isolation and establish normal diplomatic relations with Western countries.

However, regarding the “old rival” the United States, Khamenei maintained a tough stance. Whether during the revolution or his political career, he almost never ceased fighting against the “enemy.” He once said in a speech, “The hatred of the Iranian people for the U.S. is deeply rooted.”

In recent years, tensions between the U.S. and Iran have escalated multiple times.

Regarding the Iran-U.S. nuclear negotiations, starting April 2025, the U.S. and Iran held five rounds of indirect talks, but disagreements over uranium enrichment and other core issues remained significant. The sixth round was canceled after Israel’s attack on Iran. During the 12-day conflict, the U.S. bombed Iranian nuclear facilities, and Iran responded with missile strikes on U.S. military bases in Qatar.

In November of that year, Khamenei stated that the differences between Iran and the U.S. were fundamental, not strategic, highlighting the core conflict of interests. He demanded that the U.S. stop supporting Israel, withdraw military bases from the Middle East, and cease interfering in Iran’s internal affairs; only if these conditions were met would Iran consider cooperation.

At the beginning of 2026, protests erupted across Iran over rising prices and currency devaluation, leading to unrest and casualties among security personnel and civilians. The U.S. government repeatedly threatened to intervene. Iran accused the U.S. and Israel of colluding to destabilize the country.

In February, shortly after the third round of U.S.-Iran nuclear talks concluded, the U.S. and Israel launched a joint military strike targeting Iran’s top leadership, during which Khamenei was killed in the airstrike.

Facing threats of U.S. military action and interference, Khamenei had previously stated that Iran would not tolerate any foreign proxies operating on its soil and urged the U.S. government to focus on its own issues. He emphasized that Trump’s actions had harmed Iran and accused the Iranian nation, calling such acts “criminal.”

Recently, Khamenei warned that if the U.S. provokes war, it could trigger a “regional full-scale war.” In response to any invasion or provocation, the Iranian people would resolutely retaliate.

Major Changes Possible in Iran’s Political Arena

Who Might Be the Successor?

In October 2023, a new round of the Israel-Palestine conflict erupted, escalating tensions in the Middle East.

On July 31, 2024, Hamas leader Haniya was assassinated in a heavily guarded area of Tehran, sparking a cycle of retaliation between Iran and Israel.

Amid rising tensions, concerns grew that Israel might secretly assassinate Khamenei. Foreign media in November 2024 reported that the Assembly of Experts had secretly identified three candidates with their preferred order, but the names were not disclosed.

Various foreign media outlets have speculated about potential successors.

First: Mujeh Taba Khamenei, Khamenei’s eldest son

The New York Times and other outlets consider Mujeh Taba the leading candidate.

Reports indicate that he was groomed as a leader with his father’s approval and has been involved in major policy decisions behind the scenes for many years.

Second: Ali Reza Arafi, Deputy Chairman of the Assembly of Experts

Analysts believe he is not only a close confidant of Khamenei but also a member of the Guardian Council and holds significant religious authority. Having spent many years close to Khamenei, he is seen as a potential successor.

Third: Hashim Husseini Bushiri, First Vice Chairman of the Assembly of Experts

Reports say he has a close relationship with Khamenei and holds key leadership roles, increasing his chances of becoming the next leader.

However, these candidates are only speculations by foreign media; it remains unclear who will ultimately succeed.

The New York Times in June 2025 also cited informed Iranian officials saying that Khamenei had secretly designated three senior clerics as potential successors after surviving assassination attempts. “Khamenei instructed that, in the event of his assassination, the Assembly of Experts responsible for selecting the Supreme Leader should quickly choose a successor from the list he provided.”

Analysts believe that if the unexpected death of former President Raisi shifts the balance of power among Iran’s factions, then Khamenei’s death could lead to significant changes in Iran’s political landscape.

(Source: CCTV News App)