Khamenei Dead in Wartime Succession With No Precedent

Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader for 37 years, was killed in an airstrike in February 2026. His death marks the Islamic Republic's first succession of its top leader during active conflict rather than peacetime. The velayat-e faqih doctrine vests near-absolute authority in this office. Khomeini, the first Supreme Leader, died under controlled circumstances. Khamenei's wartime death creates unprecedented institutional stress as Iran navigates succession while militarily engaged.