Iran's Supreme Leader Killed in Airstrike, Facing Succession in Wartime

Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran's Supreme Leader for 37 years, died in an airstrike in February 2026. What makes this extraordinary: Iran has never replaced its top leader while at war. The Supreme Leader holds nearly absolute power under Iran's system of government. His sudden death during active conflict leaves the Islamic Republic navigating succession under intense pressure.