OAN Staff Katherine Mosack
Saturday, February 28, 2026
2:15 PM – President Donald Trump has confirmed that Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, “one of the most evil people in History,” has been killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran.
In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump celebrated the news as “justice for the people of Iran,” as well as for “all great Americans, and those people from many countries throughout the world that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS.”
"Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei..." - President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/oXZTFGg5pS
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) February 28, 2026
“He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems,” Trump explained, adding that “there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do.”
“This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country,” He said. “We are hearing that many of their IRGC (Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps), Military, and other Security and Police Forces, no longer want to fight, and are looking for Immunity from us.”
In an earlier video message posted on social media, the president invited Iranian civilians to take their opportunity once the bombing ends to “take over” their government, saying, “It will be yours to take.”
He also told the IRGC, the armed forces and all police that should they lay down their weapons, the United States would grant them immunity, and warned that they faced “certain death” otherwise.
“Hopefully, the IRGC and Police will peacefully merge with the Iranian Patriots, and work together as a unit to bring back the Country to the Greatness it deserves,” Trump remarked, suggesting that the process of regime change should start soon after the death of Khamenei and considering that the country has been “very much destroyed.”
The president clarified that the toppling of the Iranian leader, as well as several members of his government — 40, according to Fox News — does not necessarily indicate an end to the strikes in the region, which began after 1 a.m. Eastern time.
“The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!” Trump declared.
🚨Statement from President Donald J. Trump pic.twitter.com/0OrCjGVupx
— Karoline Leavitt (@PressSec) February 28, 2026
12:40 PM – High-ranking Israeli officials have reported that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli strike carried out as part of a joint military operation with the United States dubbed “Operation Epic Fury.”
Multiple officials familiar with the overnight strikes told sources such as The Independent and Axios on Saturday that the strikes on Tehran killed the Iranian leader.
The 86-year-old, reportedly deceased, supreme leader has ruled Iran for 35 years, making him one of the longest-serving authoritarian leaders in the world.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said there are “growing signs” that Khamenei is “gone.”
However, Iran Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told ABC that he was “safe and sound.”
President Donald Trump urged Iranians, who had protested their government in all 31 provinces since the end of last year, to “take over [their] government” and “seize control of [their] destiny” once the bombing ends, though officials have warned that the military conflict could continue through the weekend.
Some in Tehran have begun celebrating Khamenei’s death, according to the British Broadcasting Company (BBC), despite conflicting reports about his state.
Israeli officials are reporting that Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has been killed in the strikes.
— One America News (@OANN) February 28, 2026
We are still waiting for a confirmation from President Trump.
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