【Wen/Observer Net熊超然】On February 28, local time, US President Trump posted on his own social media platform "Truth Social" announcing that Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei "was dead." In his post, he described Khamenei as "one of the most evil people in history," and claimed that Khamenei's death was a "justice for the Iranian people and for Americans and others killed by Iran over the decades."

His post implied that the U.S. intelligence community directly participated in tracking and striking Khamenei, and said that Khamenei "could not escape our intelligence and high-precision tracking system."

"Moreover, due to close cooperation with Israel, he (Khamenei) and other leaders who were killed had no way to respond," Trump incited: "This is the best opportunity for the Iranian people to reclaim their country."

Trump also warned that the "intense and precise" bombing against Iran, aimed at achieving his so-called "peace in the Middle East and the world," would "continue uninterrupted for a week or as needed."

Later that day, Western media outlets such as CNN and Reuters quoted multiple Iranian official media sources, stating that Iranian media had confirmed the news of Khamenei's death.

Iran's Islamic Republic Broadcasting Organization (IRIB) reported on the morning of March 1 local time: "The supreme leader of Iran (Khamenei) has been martyred."

Ali Khamenei, born in 1939 in Mashhad, Iran. He served as president of Iran from 1981 to 1989, and has been the supreme leader since 1989. Khamenei suffered a targeted assassination in June 1981, which left his right arm paralyzed.

Currently, the Iranian authorities have announced that a 40-day national mourning period will begin on March 1 local time.

Combined image: US President Trump and Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei IC Photo

The Israeli Times reported on March 1 local time that two U.S. sources and one U.S. official previously revealed that on February 28, when Israel and the United States launched an attack on Iran, Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei was meeting with members of his inner circle.

Israeli officials revealed that Khamenei, along with Iran's Defense Committee Secretary Ali Shamkhani and the commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Mohammad Pakpour, died in the attack.

Additionally, two Iranian sources told Reuters that shortly before the attack began, Khamenei was meeting with Shamkhani and Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani at a secure location.

Shortly after Trump posted, Fars News Agency, an Iranian state media outlet, once posted on the social media platform "Telegram," citing "sources who know" that Trump's statements were "unfounded." However, this post did not specifically mention which of Trump's statements it referred to, and the post only included a photo of Trump.

This Persian text reads: "It is worth noting that Trump has long spread false and fabricated news. Previously, he claimed that the city of Mashhad fell, but later it was confirmed that this claim had no factual basis and was purely sensationalist media hype."

Fars News Agency responds to Telegram

Iran denied prior to Trump's post

Earlier that day, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that there were many signs indicating that "the Supreme Leader of Iran was no longer alive." Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told ABC that Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei and Iranian President Pezeshkian were "safe and sound," and that the Iranian government's system was "functioning well."

Additionally, earlier than Trump's post, Iran's Foreign Minister Alaghbari also told American media that "as far as I know," Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei was still alive.

ABC reported that despite Trump's announcement of "Khamenei's death," Iran did not immediately confirm whether Khamenei was still alive.

If Khamenei dies, the successor remains uncertain

The position of Iran's Supreme Leader, also known as the Islamic Revolution Leader or Iran's Supreme Spiritual Leader, is actually the head of state and military commander of Iran. As a theocratic leader, according to the Iranian Constitution, the Supreme Leader is the highest religious and political leader and the supreme commander of Iran's military forces, holding a status and power above the directly elected Iranian president, and serving for life.

Khamenei served as Iran's president from 1981 to 1989, and in June 1989, the "Expert Assembly" appointed him to succeed the late Khomeini as Iran's Supreme Leader. These two individuals are the only two people who have held the position of Supreme Leader since the establishment of the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1979.

Khamenei is also described as one of three figures who have had a major impact on the Islamic Republic of Iran, the other two being the founder of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Khomeini, and the president of the 1990s, Rafsanjani.

Axios News reported on February 28 local time that 86-year-old Khamenei has held power in Iran for more than 36 years, and his death would be a heavy blow to the Iranian regime, possibly accelerating its downfall, and U.S. and Israeli officials have listed this as the target of the military operation.

If Khamenei is no longer alive, it would immediately trigger a succession crisis, but the identity of the "successor" remains unclear so far.

January 3, 2026, Tehran, Iran, Supreme Leader Khamenei. IC Photo

According to the Iranian Constitution, until a new Supreme Leader is chosen by the 88-member "Expert Assembly," an interim committee will take over power.

However, Israel stated that its air strikes destroyed Iran's command system, resulting in the deaths of seven senior defense and intelligence officials, and killing 30 senior military and civilian leaders.

The report noted that notably, with most of the leadership deceased, among the surviving senior officials, Iran's Supreme National Security Council Secretary and former parliament speaker Ali Larijani became the highest-ranking civilian official currently alive, and he is also one of Khamenei's closest advisors.

On February 28 local time, Larijani posted on the social media platform X, stating that Iran would give Israel and the United States a "memorable lesson."

Even if Khamenei is dead, the hardliners will replace him

"We heard that many within the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the military, and other security and police forces do not want to fight anymore and are seeking our immunity," in a social media post, Trump said: "As I said last night, 'Now they can get immunity, and in the future they will only face death.' We hope the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and the police can peacefully integrate with Iranian patriots, unite and work together to bring the country back to its former glory."

In a nighttime video address on February 28 local time, Trump again "called on" Iranians to stay at home during the bombing, but to rise up "to seize power" after the bombing ended.

As an important figure in the opposition, the son of the last Shah of Iran, Reza Pahlavi, who is currently in the United States, has organized large-scale protests against the current Iranian regime, and now also "calls on" Iranians to take to the streets.

Pahlavi addressed the Iranian security forces: "Stand with the entire people and help ensure a safe and stable transition of power. Otherwise, you will sink along with Khamenei and his crumbling regime."

Axios News pointed out that it remains unclear whether the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps will take action to seize power, or whether this strike will create an opportunity for the Iranian people as both Trump and Netanyahu have "urged."

On February 28 local time, Reuters cited two informed sources exclusively reporting that before the joint U.S.-Israel strike on that day, the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) assessed that even if Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei was killed in the operation, hardline figures within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps would replace him and take power.

This article is exclusive to Observer Net. Without permission, it cannot be reprinted.

Original: toutiao.com/article/7612070763226677801/

Statement: The article represents the personal views of the author.