Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli airstrike with U.S. support on Saturday, ending his 36-year rule over the Islamic Republic. President Trump announced Khamenei's death on social media, claiming the Iranian leader could not evade U.S. intelligence and surveillance. The 86-year-old had been Iran's top authority since 1989, succeeding revolutionary founder Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.

Born in 1939 in Mashhad, Khamenei rose from midlevel cleric to supreme leader through political maneuvering and alliances with the Revolutionary Guards. He survived an assassination attempt in 1981 that left his right arm paralyzed. Analysts note he initially felt vulnerable due to lacking the religious credentials of his predecessor, but built power through strategic patience and control of Iran's military apparatus.

Under Khamenei's rule, Iran developed proxy forces across the Middle East and pursued nuclear capabilities while facing severe economic challenges from Western sanctions. His tenure saw brutal crackdowns on domestic protests, including the killing of thousands in recent years. The supreme leader's death creates a significant power vacuum in Tehran, with succession unclear and regional implications potentially far-reaching.