Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Khamenei, Ali | War and Armed Conflicts
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Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Khamenei, Ali | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Ayatollah Khamenei became Iran’s supreme leader in 1989, wielding ultimate religious and political authority over the state and security apparatus.
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Assassinations and Attempted Assassinations | Central Intelligence Agency | Defense and Military Forces | Espionage and Intelligence Services | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Khamenei, Ali | Politics and Government | Tehran (Iran) | Trump, Donald J | United States Defense and Military Forces | United States Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)
The C.I.A. Helped Pinpoint a Gathering of Iranian Leaders. Then Israel Struck.
The killing of Iran’s supreme leader and other top Iranian officials came after close intelligence sharing between the United States and Israel, according to people familiar with the operation.
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Demonstrations, Protests and Riots | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Khamenei, Ali | Politics and Government | Tehran (Iran) | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)
Iranians Take to Streets to Celebrate Khamenei’s Death
Some Iranians said on social media that they were privately mourning the supreme leader. But displays of exuberance broke out in cities across the country.
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Clergy | Deaths (Obituaries) | Guardian Council (Iran) | Human Rights and Human Rights Violations | internal-open-access-from-nl | International Relations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Khamenei, Ali | Khomeini, Ruhollah | Middle East | Nuclear weapons | Politics and Government | Saudi Arabia | Shiite Muslims | United States International Relations | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Hard-Line Cleric Who Made Iran a Regional Power, Is Dead at 86
As Iran’s second supreme leader, he brutally crushed dissent at home and expanded Iran’s footprint abroad, challenging Saudi Arabia for regional dominance.
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Appointments and Executive Changes | Defense and Military Forces | Hejazi, Ali Asghar | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Khamenei, Ali | Khomeini, Hassan (1972- ) | Larijani, Ali | Mohseni-Eje'i, Gholam-Hossein (1956- ) | Politics and Government | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)
Who Could Take Over for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei?
Now that Iran has declared that its supreme leader is dead, it is unclear which of his possible successors might rise.
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Espionage and Intelligence Services | internal-open-access-from-nl | International Relations | Iran | Iran-Israel Proxy Conflict | Iran's nuclear programme | Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Khamenei, Ali | Trump, Donald J | United States International Relations | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)
U.S. Ability to Determine What Comes Next in Iran Might Be Limited
Questions remain about how much effort the Trump administration will put into changing the Iranian government.
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Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Khamenei, Ali | Shamkhani, Ali | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)
See a Breakdown of Ayatollah Khamenei and Other Top Iranian Leaders
Among those killed in strikes, according to the U.S. and Israel, were Iran’s supreme leader and three of his top military commanders.
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Defense and Military Forces | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Khamenei, Ali | Missiles and Missile Defense Systems | Trump, Donald J | United States International Relations | United States Politics and Government | vis-photo | War and Armed Conflicts
After Attack on Iran by the U.S. and Israel, See Photos and Videos From the Middle East
Here are images from Iran, Israel and elsewhere in the Middle East.
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Ahmadinejad, Mahmoud | Appointments and Executive Changes | Assassinations and Attempted Assassinations | Iran | Iran's nuclear programme | Israel | Israel–Iran War | Khamenei, Ali | Tehran (Iran) | US and Israeli Attack on Iran (2026)
Israel Targeted Top Iranian Leaders in Attack’s Opening Strikes
At least one gathering of senior officials and military leaders was hit, but it was not immediately clear whether the effort to kill them had succeeded.