March 1, 2026
Khamenei's assassination - the end of an era in Iran
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On Saturday, Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed.
He was assassinated in the opening strike of Operation 'Lion's Roar'.
Khamenei was 86 years old.
He ruled Iran for nearly 37 years.
Khamenei was born in 1939 in the city of Mashhad.
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This is a holy city for Shia Islam. As a young man, he studied Shia theology. One of his teachers was Iran's first Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khomeini. Khamenei became a supporter of Khomeini. He worked towards an Islamic revolution. The police arrested him six times. After the Islamic Revolution, he advanced quickly. In 1981, he was elected as Iran's president. In 1989, after Khomeini's death, he became the Supreme Leader.
As a leader, Khamenei built a regional terror network. He funded Hezbollah and Hamas. He called for the destruction of Israel. He advanced Iran's nuclear program. He acted violently against regime opponents. In the latest wave of protests, he ordered a mass killing of demonstrators.
Khamenei's assassination occurred in the compound where he lived and worked. Israeli missiles struck the location. After the announcement of his death, many Iranian citizens took to the streets. There were mourning processions, but many people also celebrated.
Now, a temporary council is running Iran. The council includes the president, the head of the judiciary, and a cleric. The council must choose a new Supreme Leader.