International tensions escalated dramatically on February 28, 2026, as conflicting reports emerged regarding the status of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following recent military operations. Israeli officials have circulated unverified claims suggesting Khamenei may have been killed during coordinated U.S.-Israeli strikes on targets in Tehran, while Iranian authorities vehemently deny these assertions, labeling them as psychological warfare.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that there were ‘increasing indicators’ pointing to the Supreme Leader’s demise, though he acknowledged the information remained unconfirmed. A senior Israeli official, speaking anonymously to Reuters, further claimed that Khamenei’s body had been identified among the casualties from the strikes.
The Iranian government mounted a robust denial campaign, with Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei assuring international media that both Supreme Leader Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian remained ‘safe and in good health.’ The public relations chief of Khamenei’s office characterized the reports as deliberate misinformation designed to undermine Iranian stability.
Amid the uncertainty, BBC Persian documented unusual public celebrations in certain Tehran districts, with residents reportedly cheering, sounding vehicle horns, and gathering in streets—behavior suggesting either belief in the reports or opposition sentiment taking advantage of the situation.
The geopolitical climate remains exceptionally volatile as no independent verification of Khamenei’s condition has emerged. The situation continues to develop with intelligence agencies worldwide attempting to ascertain the truth behind these contradictory accounts while regional stability hangs in the balance.