Celebrations and mourning in Tehran after strikes kill Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei

Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in U.S.-led strikes targeting Tehran in 2026, causing mixed reactions across the Iranian capital as some citizens celebrated the death of the long-time religious leader while regime supporters gathered to mourn their fallen figure. The dramatic events unfolded when unidentified aircraft, later confirmed to be part of a U.S.-led coalition, conducted precision strikes on multiple locations in Tehran, including the Supreme Leader's compound. Khamenei, who had led Iran since the death of Ayatollah Khomeini in 1989, was reportedly killed instantly in the attack that occurred during heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran over Iran's nuclear program and regional military activities. In the streets of Tehran, scenes of celebration emerged in some neighborhoods where citizens distributed sweets and honked car horns, expressing their joy at the death of a leader they viewed as oppressive. Meanwhile, in other parts of the city, large crowds of regime supporters gathered at mosques and public squares, mourning the loss of their spiritual and political leader. The assassination of Khamenei creates an unprecedented power vacuum at the top of Iran's theocratic government, with the Assembly of Experts responsible for appointing a new Supreme Leader, a process that could take weeks or months.