Iran's Supreme Leader Dies in Airstrike; New Leader Not Yet Named

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran's most powerful ruler, and four family members were killed in a US-Israeli airstrike on February 28, 2026. Funeral processions began July 7 across three major Iranian cities, following tradition for state funerals. Iran has not yet chosen a successor—the clerical council responsible for that decision hasn't formally started the process.