“We Feel That Is a Correct Story”: Trump Stands by Claim of Khamenei’s Death as Region Erupts in War
US President Donald Trump has asserted that reports of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei being killed in airstrikes are accurate, declaring in a brief interview, “We feel that that is a correct story.”
Speaking to NBC News, Trump went further, claiming that “a large amount of leadership” inside Iran has been eliminated.
“I don’t mean like two people,” he said, adding that “most” of the country’s top decision-makers are “gone.”
When asked who could replace Khamenei, Trump quipped that Iranians might “call me to ask who I’d like,” later clarifying he was “only being a little sarcastic.”
A Dramatic Military Escalation
The remarks came as the United States and Israel initiated a sweeping, joint military offensive across Iran on Saturday, February 28 — a move that signals one of the most severe confrontations between Washington and Tehran in decades.
Trump confirmed that “major combat operations” are currently in motion and directly appealed to the Iranian population to “seize control of your destiny,” urging them to challenge the Islamic establishment that has governed since the 1979 revolution.
This marks the second instance in eight months that the Trump administration has resorted to direct military force against the Islamic Republic.
Mounting Casualties and Expanding Fallout
According to the Iranian Red Crescent, at least 201 people have been killed and more than 700 wounded nationwide.
Among the most tragic reports is a strike in southern Iran that allegedly hit a girls’ school, with fears that 85 individuals may have lost their lives.
Targets reportedly included command hubs of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, missile infrastructure, and air defense batteries.
Explosions were also said to have occurred near offices linked to Khamenei in Tehran.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi earlier maintained that both Khamenei and President Masoud Pezeshkian were alive “as far as I know,” though he acknowledged that a near-total communications blackout across Iran has made verification difficult.
Iranian outlets, including Tasnim and Mehr, have since rejected Israeli claims of Khamenei’s death, stating he remains “steadfast and firm in commanding the field.”
Retaliation Spreads Across the Region
Tehran responded with a barrage of hundreds of drones and missiles aimed at US and allied interests.
While American officials report limited damage to their facilities, debris from intercepted projectiles injured civilians in Israel. One death has been confirmed in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Air travel disruptions have rippled across the Gulf. Airports in Kuwait and Dubai have experienced significant interruptions, while Bahrain, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia reported intercepting hostile drones or missiles within their airspace.
Conflicting Accounts and Diplomatic Turmoil
The Associated Press cited Israeli military sources claiming that Iran’s defense minister Amir Nasirzadeh and Revolutionary Guards commander Mohammed Pakpour were killed in the strikes.
Meanwhile, at the United Nations, Secretary-General António Guterres told the Security Council he was “not in a position to confirm” reports of Khamenei’s death.
He lamented that diplomatic openings over Iran had been “deeply regrettably squandered.”
The Security Council has convened an emergency session as the crisis intensifies.
The International Atomic Energy Agency — the global nuclear watchdog — stated it has detected no signs of radiological leakage from Iranian nuclear facilities thus far.
Political Backlash in Washington
At home, the administration faces scrutiny. White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt confirmed congressional leaders were briefed.
However, senior Democrats, including House Minority Leader Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, criticized the absence of explicit congressional authorization, describing the campaign as tantamount to an undeclared war.
As uncertainty clouds Tehran and missiles streak across Middle Eastern skies, the fate of Iran’s top leadership — and the trajectory of a rapidly widening conflict — remain at the center of global concern.
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