Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead, Trump says

Live PoliticsIran Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead, Trump says Published 02/28/2026Published February 28, 2026 Following US and Israeli strikes on Tehran, US President Donald Trump said Iran's supreme leader has been killed. DW has more. https://p.dw.com/p/59YxP Advertisement Skip next section What you need to know What you need to know The US and Israel have launched a major attack on Iran Tehran has responded by firing missiles at Israel and targeting US bases in Gulf countries After Israel targeted Khamenei's compound, Netanyahu announced the Iranian supreme leader has been killed The US military says Iran dealt 'minimal damage' to its installations, no reports of American casualties Both Trump and Israeli PM Netanyahu are urging Iranians to overthrow the regime Germany, France and the UK have condemned Iranian counterattacks in the region This blog will bring you the latest on the unfolding situation in the Middle East between Iran and Israel on Saturday, February 28, 2026: Skip next section Debris from drone damage Burj Al Arab hotel — Dubai government 02/28/2026February 28, 2026 Debris from drone damage Burj Al Arab hotel — Dubai government The government of the emirate of Dubai said in a statement that debris from an intercepted drone had damaged the outer facade of the Burj Al Arab luxury hotel. "Authorities confirm that a drone was intercepted, and debris caused a minor fire on the Burj Al Arab's outer facade," the Dubai Media Office said. "Civil Defence teams responded immediately and brought the incident under control," it said, adding that no injuries had been reported in the incident. It comes less than an hour after Dubai's government said that four staff were injured at the emirate's international airport in an "incident" in which the airport sustained "minor damage." https://p.dw.com/p/59bGP Skip next section Reza Pahlavi hails 'death of the criminal Khamenei' 02/28/2026February 28, 2026 Reza Pahlavi hails 'death of the criminal Khamenei' Reza Pahlavi, the heir to the Iranian monarchy that was ousted in the Islamic Revolution of 1979, said Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei "has been erased from the face of history." "With his death, the Islamic Republic has in effect reached its end and will very soon be consigned to the dustbin of history," Pahlavi said. "The death of the criminal Khamenei, though it does not avenge the blood that has been spilled, may serve as a balm for the wounded hearts of the grieving fathers and mothers, husbands and wives, sons and daughters, and the families of those who gave their lives in Iran's Lion and Sun National Revolution," Pahlvai said, referring to Iran's previous flag prior to the Islamic Revolution. Pahlavi urged the Iranian people to remain "vigilant and prepared." "The time for a widespread and decisive presence in the streets is very near," Pahlavi said. "Together, united and steadfast, we will bring about the final victory, and we will celebrate Iran's freedom across our beloved homeland." Pahlavi joins Munich rally calling for Iran regime change To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video https://p.dw.com/p/59bFJ Skip next section French shipping group tells Gulf vessels to 'take shelter' 02/28/2026February 28, 2026 French shipping group tells Gulf vessels to 'take shelter' French shipping group CMA CGM told vessels in the Persian Gulf to "take shelter" amid the escalating conflict in the Middle East. "All vessels inside Persian Gulf, and bound to Persian Gulf, have been instructed with immediate effect to proceed to shelter," it said in a statement on its website. It added that passage through the Suez Canal had been suspended "until further notice" and that shoups would be rerouted via South Africa's Cape of Good Hope. "Customers will be contacted as soon as we have more details of the possible alternative ports where their cargo could be discharged," the statement read. Iran's Revolutionary Guard said earlier on Sunday that the Strait of Hormuz that links the Gulf of Oman to the Persian Gulf had been "basically" shut. https://p.dw.com/p/59bFN Skip next section Rubio cancels Monday trip to Israel — US State Department 02/28/2026February 28, 2026 Rubio cancels Monday trip to Israel — US State Department The United States' State Department said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio would not travel to Israel on Monday amid increasing military escalation between the two allies and Iran. "Due to current circumstances, Secretary Rubio will no longer travel to Israel on March 2," State Department official Dylan Johnson said in a post on X. https://p.dw.com/p/59bFI Skip next section UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk urges deescalation 02/28/2026February 28, 2026 UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk urges deescalation UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk condemned the escalating conflict in the Middle East and urged restraint. "I deplore the military strikes across Iran this morning by Israel and the United States of America, and the subsequent retaliatory strikes by Iran," Türk said, adding that bombs and missiles "only result in death, destruction and human misery." "To avert these terrible consequences for civilians, I call for restraint and implore all parties to see reason, to deescalate, and for a return to the 'negotiating table' where they had been actively seeking a solution only hours earlier," Türk said. The UN human rights chief reminded all parties in the conflict that "the protection of civilians is paramount" and noted that there must be compliance with international law. https://p.dw.com/p/59bEV Skip next section Seven high-ranking Iranian officials killed in strikes: IDF 02/28/2026February 28, 2026 Seven high-ranking Iranian officials killed in strikes: IDF Seven senior Iranian officials were killed as part of the joint Israeli-US strikes this morning, Israel's military said in a statement. The list of officials killed includes Ali Shamkhani, Supreme Leader Khamenei's senior advisor, and Defense Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh. https://p.dw.com/p/59bCx Skip next section One dead, dozens injured of Iranian rocket in Tel Aviv 02/28/2026February 28, 2026 One dead, dozens injured of Iranian rocket in Tel Aviv One woman was killed and more than 20 others were injured after an Iranian rocket attack on Tel Aviv, Israel's rescue services told local media. The woman was found severely injured, before later succumbing to her wounds. The search and rescue operation in the affected area is still ongoing. https://p.dw.com/p/59bDo Skip next section 4 airport staff injured in Dubai — government 02/28/2026February 28, 2026 4 airport staff injured in Dubai — government Four staff at Dubai's international airport were injured in an "incident," the media office of Dubai's government said in a post on the platform X. "Dubai Airports confirms that a concourse at Dubai International (DXB) sustained minor damage in an incident, which was quickly contained," the post read. "Four staff sustained injuries and received prompt medical attention," it said. The Dubai media office said that emergency response teams had been deployed to the site. The statement did not specify the cause of the incident. In response to US and Israeli strikes on Iran, Tehran has responded by firing missiles at Israel and targeting US bases in Gulf countries. https://p.dw.com/p/59bEQ Skip next section WHO chief Tedros 'deeply troubled' by events in Middle East 02/28/2026February 28, 2026 WHO chief Tedros 'deeply troubled' by events in Middle East Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the director-general of the World Health Organization (WHO), said that he was "deeply troubled" by the situation in the Middle East after the US and Israel launched strikes on Iran and Tehran responded by targeting Israel and US bases in Gulf countries. "I am deeply troubled by the situation unfolding today across the Middle East," Tedros said in a statement. "My heart goes out to the civilians trapped in the crossfire," he said. "Regardless of borders, everyone deserves to live without the threat of violence around them." He called for the world's leaders "to choose the challenging path of dialogue over the senseless route of destruction." "The world is watching and hoping for wisdom to prevail over weapons," he declared. https://p.dw.com/p/59bDj Skip next section Iran Supreme Leader Khamenei dead, Trump says 02/28/2026February 28, 2026 Iran Supreme Leader Khamenei dead, Trump says Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli strike this morning, US President Donald Trump said. In a post on his Truth Social network, Trump labeled Khamenei "one of the most evil people in history." "He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that could have been killed along with him, could do," Trump said. Trump said that he is hearing that many of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), "Military and other Security and Police Forces, no longer want to fight, and are looking for Immunity from us." "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," the president said. He said that "heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week, or as long as necessary to achieve our objective of" peace in the Middle East and the world. https://p.dw.com/p/59bCu Skip next section One person severely injured after Iranian attack in Tel Aviv: authorities 02/28/2026February 28, 2026 One person severely injured after Iranian attack in Tel Aviv: authorities Saim Dušan Inayatullah Editor One person was severely injured in an Iranian strike on central Tel Aviv, Israeli rescue service Magen David Adom said. A man in his forties was in serious condition with shrapnel injuries, the rescue service said in a statement. https://p.dw.com/p/59bBZ Skip next section US 'feels' Khamenei killing reports are true, Trump says 02/28/2026February 28, 2026 US 'feels' Khamenei killing reports are true, Trump says US President Donald Trump said Washington believes the reports in Israel on the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei are true. "We feel that that is a correct story," Trump told NBC News, adding that most decision makers in Tehran are "gone" following the joint US-Israeli strikes that took place this morning. https://p.dw.com/p/59b5W Skip next section Iran's regime 'deeply entrenched,' expert tells DW 02/28/2026February 28, 2026 Iran's regime 'deeply entrenched,' expert tells DW After US President Donald Trump called on Iranians to rise up against the religious regime, Professor of International Relations at the London School of Economics, Fawaz Gerges, told DW that this could be "suicidal for tens of thousands of Iranians." He said the Iranian government still has a significant popular base of support, which means an uprising could lead to "civil strife." "The Iranian leadership is deeply entrenched. They have had time to plan and to coordinate their actions. And I think they're planning for a long war," Gerges added, noting that the consequences for both the Iranian people and the region could be catastrophic. What are the risks of a US military attack on Iran? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video "I think the overarching strategic aim of Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu is regime change in Iran," Gerges said. "The overarching aim of the Iranian regime is basically resilience, resistance, to basically absorb the first and the second and the third shocks and basically continue to resist even though what we have seen so far is a minimalist response on the part of the Iranian government," he added. https://p.dw.com/p/59awn Skip next section Proof of Khamenei's death reportedly shown to Netanyahu 02/28/2026February 28, 2026 Proof of Khamenei's death reportedly shown to Netanyahu Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was presented with proof that Iran Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei had been killed in the joint Israeli-US strikes on Tehran this morning, Israeli outlet N12 reports. According to the report, Netanyahu and the heads of Israel's security establishment saw a photo of Khamenei's body. Separately, Israeli public broadcaster Kan reported Khamenei's body had been located. https://p.dw.com/p/59awp Show more posts