TNI Bureau: Ali Khamenei, the long-serving Supreme Leader of Iran who dominated the country’s political and religious life for more than three decades, has died at the age of 86 after being killed in USs-Israeli airstrikes during the escalating conflict in the Middle East.

Several of his close relatives were also reported killed in the same strikes, marking a dramatic and violent end to one of the most powerful figures in the Islamic world.

Khamenei had led the Islamic Republic since 1989, exercising ultimate authority over Iran’s political system, armed forces and strategic policies. His death represents the most significant leadership vacuum in Iran since the passing of Ruhollah Khomeini, the architect of the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Born in Mashhad, Khamenei emerged as a key figure in the revolutionary movement that toppled the monarchy and established clerical rule. He later served as Iran’s president from 1981 to 1989 before being elevated to the position of Supreme Leader following Khomeini’s death. Though initially seen as a compromise candidate, Khamenei steadily consolidated power and became the central authority in Iran’s political and religious establishment.

During his 36-year rule, Khamenei maintained a firm ideological line, strongly opposing the United States and Israel while promoting Iran’s role as a major regional power. He expanded the influence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and supported allied forces across the Middle East, shaping conflicts in Iraq, Syria and beyond.

At home, Khamenei presided over a tightly controlled political system where dissent was often suppressed. His leadership saw repeated waves of protests triggered by economic hardship and political discontent, many of which were met with strict security measures.

The circumstances of his death have intensified regional tensions. The airstrikes that killed Khamenei and members of his family have sharply escalated hostilities and raised fears of a wider conflict across the Middle East.

Khamenei’s death closes a defining chapter in Iran’s history. After more than three decades under his leadership, the Islamic Republic now faces an uncertain transition as its clerical establishment prepares to select a new Supreme Leader — a decision that could reshape the future of Iran and the region.