Iran's former Supreme Guide, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei•©️photo : Getty images
Tehran, March 1, 2026.- Iran confirmed on Sunday the death of its supreme guide, L-ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed during a joint operation between the United States and Israel. The announcement triggered a wave of global diplomatic and security shock, between threats of reprisals in Tehran and calls for restraint in Europe and the Vatican.
Iran called the death of its highest leader« act of war « . President Massoud Pezeshkian has promised that « avenge the supreme guide is a legitimate right and duty « , while the Guardians of the Revolution denounced « criminal and terrorist acts « . In Tehran, thousands of regime supporters gathered in Enghelab during a pro-government demonstration.
In Washington, President Donald Trump claimed an operation « Just « welcoming on Truth Social the disappearance of a leader whom he described as « evil « . In Israel, Israel Defense Minister Katz said: « Justice has been done » and promised to continue the actions to protect the Hebrew state.
In Europe, the European Union's Head of Diplomacy, Kaja Kallas, referred to a « decisive moment » for Iran, while the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, warned against a risk of regional instability. Russian President Vladimir Putin denounced a « assassination » China condemned a violation of Iranian sovereignty. Pope Leo XIV, for his part, called for an end to « the spiral of violence » in the Middle East.
In the Middle East, the influential Iraqi Shi'ite leader Moqtada Sadr decreed three days of mourning in Iraq, while Hamas condemned a « abominable crime « . Conversely, British Defense Secretary John Healey and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese felt that Khamenei's disappearance would be « Not wept « , while fearing an Iranian response.
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