US-Israel Attack Iran Live Updates: 40-Day Mourning For Ayatollah Khamenei; 'Nine Iranian Naval Ships Destroyed, Going After Rest', Says Trump

Earlier in the day, Trump said that 48 Iranian leaders have been killed in the strikes launched Saturday by the United States and Israel.

"Nobody can believe the success we’re having; 48 leaders are gone in one shot. And it’s moving along rapidly," Fox News quoted Trump as saying.

Former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was reportedly killed in an Israeli-US airstrike in Tehran, according to Iran’s state-linked Iranian Labour News Agency on Sunday.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday condemned Iranian strikes on the UAE and condoled the loss of lives. "Spoke with President of the UAE, my brother Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Strongly condemned the attacks on the UAE and condoled the loss of lives in these attacks. India stands in solidarity with the UAE in these difficult times," PM Modi said on X.

US President Donald Trump on Truth Social said that nine Iranian naval ships, including some significant vessels, have been destroyed and sunk. "I have just been informed that we have destroyed and sunk 9 Iranian Naval Ships, some of them relatively large and important. We are going after the rest — They will soon be floating at the bottom of the sea, also! In a different attack, we largely destroyed their Naval Headquarters. Other than that, their Navy is doing very well!" he said.

US President Donald Trump on Sunday said that Tehran's new leadership wants to have a discussion with him and that he has agreed.

"They want to talk, and I have agreed to talk, so I will be talking to them. They should have done it sooner. They should have given what was very practical and easy to do sooner. They waited too long," The Atlantic quoted Trump as saying.

Iran-Israel Conflict Live: In a video message, Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu said that in a meeting with the Minister of Defence, the Chief of the General Staff, and the Director of the Mossad, he has given instructions for the continuation of the campaign.

Iran-Israel Conflict Live: Israeli Defence Force (IDF) has shared a video of two Iranian aircraft destroyed at the airfield before takeoff.    ,

VIDEO | Iran-Israel conflict: Israeli Army claims Iranian jets ready to take off, destroyed.

(Source: Third Party)
(Full video available on https://t.co/dv5TRAShcC) pic.twitter.com/NnZs1vV7H8, — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 1, 2026

Amid the escalating tensions in the Middle East, EAM S Jaishankar held a telephonic conversation with Oman FM Badr Albusaidi.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Jaishankar wrote, "Appreciated his assessments and insights on the ongoing conflict."

An Indian citizen is reported to be among the 58 individuals who sustained minor injuries in Iranian military strikes that targeted the United Arab Emirates, according to information released by the UAE authorities.

In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the Indian Embassy in UAE said, "The Embassy is aware of the injury to the Indian national and is in touch with the hospital authorities. The Indian national is out of danger. We are rendering all possible assistance."

The United States Central Command on Sunday denied Iran’s claim of striking the USS Abraham Lincoln. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the US Central Command said, “The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by eliminating threats from the Iranian regime.”,

🚫Iran’s IRGC claims to have struck USS Abraham Lincoln with ballistic missiles. LIE.
✅The Lincoln was not hit. The missiles launched didn’t even come close. The Lincoln continues to launch aircraft in support of CENTCOM’s relentless campaign to defend the American people by… pic.twitter.com/AjaeHMemtA, — U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 1, 2026

Arafi rose to prominence after Khamenei became Supreme Leader in 1989, and he was first appointed Friday prayer leader in his hometown of Meybod in 1992. He was 33 at the time, a young age for such an appointment and a clear sign of Khamenei's trust in him.

Speaking to Al Jazeera, Iran's Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, said that Iran's new supreme leader will be chosen within 'one or two days'.

Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps said on Sunday that they had attacked the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Gulf a day after the country's supreme leader was killed in US-Israeli strikes.

"The US aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln was struck by four ballistic missiles," the Guards said in a statement to local media.

Indian embassies of all affected countries in West Asia on Sunday released emergency helpline numbers for Indian nationals. These emergency helpline numbers have been shared for Indian nationals in several affected countries, including Iran, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait, to help them reach out to the embassy amid the escalating security situation.

Kuwait:

+965 65501946

Oman:

8007 1234 (Toll Free)

+968 9828 2270 (WhatsApp)

Iran:

+989128109115

+989128109102

Following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran raised a red "flag of revenge" over the dome of the Jamkaran Mosque.

Iran's Guards have claimed that they targeted the US aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln amid the escalating conflict, news agency AFP reported.

According to a report by The Washington Post, Salman made multiple private phone calls to US President Donald Trump last month. The report is surprising as Riyadh had, in January, assured that it would not allow its territory or airspace to be used for an attack on Iran, adding that Riyadh would uphold and respect the sovereignty of the country.

Iran begins 40-day state mourning after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in US-backed Israeli strikes.  President Masoud Pezeshkian has also announced seven days of public holidays as the nation mourns the loss of its leader.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) on Sunday night, after returning to Delhi from Tamil Nadu, to review the situation in the Middle East, news agency ANI quoted government sources as saying.

Brent crude jumped 10% to about $80 a barrel over the counter on Sunday, oil traders said, while analysts predicted that prices could climb as high as $100 after US and Israeli strikes on Iran plunged the Middle East into a new war.

Gulf cities of Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha and Manama report fresh explosions, news agency AFP reports citing local correspondents and residents. The blasts come as Iran vows to avenge the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israel strikes. 

Earlier in the day, loud blasts were heard in Dubai and Doha on Sunday while Oman was hit for the first time as Duqm commercial port came under attack. 

Abu Dhabi's Etihad Towers complex, which house the Israeli embassy and other international missions, suffered damages as debris from an intercepted drone fell. A woman and her child were injured in the incident, Abu Dhabi's state media office said on Sunday.

The death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has left the country in crisis, leading to concerns over oil supplies. However, experts deny the possibility of immediate physical disruption in oil supplies even as the US-Israel war on Iran impacts the Strait of Hormuz.

India may not suffer short-term impact as Indian refiners currently hold sufficient crude inventories to meet at least 10 days of requirements, with fuel stocks covering another 5-7 days. But there may be a rise in crude prices and macroeconomic pressures in the near term, PTI quoted officials and analysts as saying.

At least 150 tankers including crude and liquefied natural gas vessels dropped anchor in open Gulf waters beyond the Strait of Hormuz and dozens more were stationary on the other side of the chokepoint, shipping data showed on Sunday. The tankers were clustered in open waters off the coasts of major Gulf oil producers including Iraq and Saudi Arabia as well as LNG giant Qatar, according to Reuters estimates based on ship-tracking data from the MarineTraffic platform. - Reuters

Iran has chosen senior cleric Alireza Arafi as the jurist member of ⁠Iran's Leadership Council which will rule the country till a new Supreme Leader is elected. ⁠Arafi will be the interim leader, working along side President Masoud Pezeshkian ‌and Supreme Court Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei.

Senior cleric Ayatollah Alireza Arafi to serve as interim Supreme Leader after Ali Khamenei killing, reports Iran news agency.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran considers it its legitimate duty and right to avenge the perpetrators and masterminds of this historic crime," says Masoud Pezeshkian in a statement carried by state TV.

The IDF shares video of Israeli Air Force strikes in Tehran under Operation 'Roaring Lion'.,

‼️WATCH: For the first time since the start of Operation ‘Roaring Lion’, the IAF is striking targets belonging to the Iranian terror regime in the heart of Tehran.

Over the past day, the IAF conducted large-scale strikes to establish aerial superiority and pave the path to… pic.twitter.com/DN2MkGCfWc, — Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) March 1, 2026

As many as nine people have been killed in Karachi as protests against Ayatollah Khamenei's death turn violent. The demonstrators tried to storm the US consulate but were pushed back.

Iran's capital Tehran reports a massive blast as Israel's military claims to target the "heart" of the city. A huge cloud of smoke is seen rising from the area where explosion took place.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) postpones board exam scheduled for Monday, March 2, in the middle east. The move came after Israel-Iran war led to unrest in Bahrain, Iran, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE.

CBSE will review the situation on March 3 and announce the new exam date accordingly. It advises students to stay in touch with their schools for further updates.

Yemen's Houthis offer condolences and "deepest sympathy" over Khamenei's death. The rebel group calls the killing of Iran's Supreme Leader as "a heinous crime" and a "flagrant violation of all international laws". Houthis term Israel-US strike on Iran as an "unjust attack on the Islamic nation."

Several loud blasts were heard again today in Dubai and over Qatar's capital of Doha after Iran launched retaliatory strikes on the neighbouring Gulf states, news agency Reuters reports, citing witnesses.

Iran's top security official, Ali Larijani, said a temporary leadership council would be set up. He accused the United States and Israel of trying to plunder and disintegrate Iran and warned "secessionist groups" of a harsh response if they attempt action, state television said. - Reuters

Iran's armed forces chief of staff, Abdolrahim Mousavi, killed in Israel-US strikes, says Iranian TV.

Israel says it has launched fresh strikes on Iran after Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's death leaves the middle east in turmoil.

US President Donald Trump posts on Truth Social, "Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever hit before. They better not do that, because if they do, we will hit them with a force that has never been seen before..."

Iranians have been seen taking to the streets to react to the death of supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in video clips that began to emerge after the attack on Saturday. US President Donald Trump said that Iran's ruler had been killed during the surprise wave of US-Israel strikes.

• At 7:30am on Saturday morning, Donald Trump said the US had begun "major combat operations" against Iran. An hour earlier, Israel said it had launched a "preventative" military strike on Iran.
• Fourteen hours later, the US president announced that Iran's supreme leader had been killed in the strikes, confirming reports from Israeli officials. Iran, however, did not confirm the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who had ruled the country since 1989, for another four hours. Earlier, a satellite image showed extensive damage at his compound.
• Announcing Khamenei's death, Trump urged Iranians to "take back your country" - a reference to regime change. In a statement earlier this morning, Trump had urged Iranians to rise up against their government - and Benjamin Netanyahu called on the people to "seize the opportunity" to change the regime.
• Trump also said the "heavy bombing" of Iran would continue this week or longer, "as long as necessary to achieve our objective of peace in the Middle East".
• Iran began a "counterattack" of launching drones and missiles towards Israel, with sirens heard in Tel Aviv.
• Iran has also retaliated against multiple US military sites in the Middle East, with reports of attacks in Bahrain, Qatar and UAE.
• More than 200 Iranians have been killed, including 80 children. The US says it has no reported casualties and minimal damage.

Across Israel, city streets stood deserted on Saturday as residents took cover in shelters, while the blasts from Iranian missiles being intercepted reverberated overhead. It was the second time in under a year that Israelis were undertaking this grim wartime routine, having first fled Iranian missiles during a 12-day war between the arch-foes last June.

In the commercial hub of Tel Aviv, Orit Baisa, 42, rushed to an underground car park as soon as he heard the air raid sirens warning of an incoming missile barrage. “We don’t have a shelter, no safe room. The stairwell isn’t a compliant secure room. This (car park) is the safest place there is,” he said. “If this (war) is going to last, then yes, sure, we’ll go back to it, bring the tents, the mattresses, bring all the equipment and live here, like last time,” he said.

Andrea Siposova, who fled to the same car park, said she had prepared for the shelter in case war broke out.
Inside, some people had brought prams, others, who were reservists, their assault rifles while some began praying in a small group.

Israel banned public gatherings, shut schools and workplaces and moved hospital patients to underground facilities on Saturday. Defence minister Israel Katz declared a state of emergency across the country, warning the public of Iranian missile and drone attacks.

Exiled Prince praises Trump amid US-Israel strikes on Tehran, declaring the Iranian people's liberation is near. In a post on X, he thanked Trump and wrote, "The courageous Iranian people have paid a heavy price for freedom. Thanks to President Donald Trump, their hour of liberation is at hand".,

The courageous Iranian people have paid a heavy price for freedom. Thanks to President @realDonaldTrump, their hour of liberation is at hand.

In the @washingtonpost I lay out my plan for an orderly, transparent transition to a democratic Iran.https://t.co/HU7oNWRGcj, — Reza Pahlavi (@PahlaviReza) March 1, 2026

Protesters in Srinagar erupted in anger and mourned the death of Iranian Supreme Leader Khamenei, calling the attack an assault on humanity. Demonstrations reflect deep sorrow and condemnation over the killing and strikes.

The US accused Iran of attempting to assassinate President Donald Trump, escalating tensions amid the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a major attack by Israel and the United States, describing it as the "greatest chance" for Iranians to reclaim their country.

During a UN Security Council speech, US Ambassador Mike Waltz accused Iran of assassination attempts, human rights violations, and global destabilization, stating, "The Iranian regime has even attempted to assassinate the US president - President Donald Trump. Now they are masquerading as a victim. Now we have taken lawful action."

US President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that he knows "exactly who" could lead Iran after the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US and Israeli airstrikes.

When asked by CBS News who he believes is making decisions in Iran following Khamenei's death, Trump replied, "I know exactly who, but I can't tell you."

He was further questioned if there was anyone in Iran he would prefer to see as the leader, to which he responded, "Yes, I think so. There are some good candidates."

Regarding who might succeed Khamenei, who had ruled Iran since 1989, Trump said, "I don't know, but at some point they'll be calling me to ask who I'd like."

He added, "I'm only being a little sarcastic when I say that."

Khamenei had never publicly identified a successor, and it remains unclear who might take his place.

In the latest escalation of the Israel-Iran conflict, the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guard and a top security adviser have been killed in US-Israeli airstrikes.

Following the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei, Iran’s President, Head of the Judiciary, and a Guardian Council Jurist will temporarily assume leadership roles. This arrangement is reported by IRNA as part of a transitional leadership plan.

Zayed International Airport in the UAE’s Abu Dhabi and Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest for international traffic, suffered damages following an overnight Iranian attack across the Gulf states, authorities said. "Authorities in Abu Dhabi are responding to an incident resulting from the interception of a drone that targeted Zayed International Airport. The interception led to falling debris, which resulted in one fatality of an Asian national and seven injuries," the airport said in a post on X.,

Authorities in Abu Dhabi are responding to an incident resulting from the interception of a drone that targeted Zayed International Airport. The interception led to falling debris, which resulted in one fatality of an Asian national and seven injuries., — ABU DHABI AIRPORTS مطارات أبوظبي (@ad_airports) March 1, 2026

Just after US President Donald Trump announced that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was dead, a cryptic message was shared from Khamenei’s account on social media platform X.

“Be nām-e nāmi-ye Heydar, alayhis-salām," the post was written in Persian which translates to, “In the exalted name of Haidar (peace be upon him).",

به نام نامی حیدر علیه‌السلام pic.twitter.com/n848j6KASq, — KHAMENEI.IR | فارسی (@Khamenei_fa) February 28, 2026

US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social on Sunday, claiming to display the “moment of impact of a powerful Iranian missile on the heart of Tel Aviv.” In his caption, he emphasized the footage as proof of the intensifying conflict between Iran and Israel, underscoring the escalating cross-border strikes and the rising tensions in the region.,

🇮🇱 🇵🇸 Moment of impact of a powerful Iranian missile on the heart of Tel Aviv. pic.twitter.com/u5HvO4ftjS, — Commentary: Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) March 1, 2026

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who consolidated theocratic power in Iran over several decades as its supreme leader and sought to transform the country into a regional powerhouse, has passed away at the age of 86. His leadership led Iran into confrontations with Israel and the United States over its nuclear program while suppressing democratic protests at home.

Khamenei reshaped the Islamic Republic after taking control in 1989 following the death of Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Khomeini, the passionate and charismatic figure who led the overthrow of the shah, established rule by Shiite clerics with the aim of spreading religious purity. In contrast, Khamenei, a more reserved and less charismatic figure, took on the task of solidifying and institutionalizing that revolutionary vision.

Khamenei ruled for far longer than Khomeini, significantly expanding the Shiite clerical establishment and transforming the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard into the most powerful force supporting his rule. Under his leadership, the Guard became both a military and economic powerhouse, commanding Iran’s elite forces and ballistic missile capabilities, while also exerting influence across various sectors of the economy.

Iran's IRGC has announced it will soon begin its "most intense" offensive targeting Israel and US military bases. Meanwhile, Iran’s state television has confirmed that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in recent strikes. The Iranian government also announced 40 days of mourning following the killing of Khamenei.

The Iranian government has vowed retaliation, calling the killing of Supreme Leader Khamenei in a US-Israeli campaign a "great crime" that will not go unanswered. Tensions escalate as both sides brace for further conflict in the ongoing Israel-Iran war.,

Indeed, to God we belong and to Him we shall return.

The Leader of the Islamic Revolution of Iran, Imam Khamenei, has been martyred. pic.twitter.com/3XI7i74pMi, — Iran Military Monitor (@IRIran_Military) March 1, 2026

Iran’s state television has confirmed that Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in recent strikes. The Iranian government also announced 40 days of mourning following the killing of Khamenei.

According Iranian media reports, Khamenei was killed in the early hours of Saturday. 

US President Donald Trump declared on Truth Social that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is dead, calling it the "single greatest chance" for Iranians to reclaim control of their country and warning that military action would continue.

"Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead," Trump wrote, describing the development as "Justice for the people of Iran" and for Americans and others he said were harmed under Khamenei’s leadership.

Trump said the Iranian leader "was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems" and claimed the operation was carried out "working closely with Israel." He added that other senior leaders were killed alongside him and said, "there was not a thing he could do."

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been killed in US-Israel strikes on Tehran, according to multiple Iranian state media outlets. It comes after the US and Israel said Khamenei was killed following a barrage of joint US-Israeli strikes on the nation.