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News: Khamenei Confirmed Dead as Iran Retaliates Across

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has been confirmed dead by Iranian state media following joint US-Israeli strikes dubbed Operation Epic Fury, triggering one of the most consequential geopolitical crises since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The Islamic Republic has responded with waves of ballistic missiles and drones targeting Israel and at least six Gulf states hosting US military assets, killing and injuring civilians as far as Dubai and Abu Dhabi. As of Sunday, March 1, 2026, the conflict shows no signs of abating. Israel announced fresh strikes "in the heart of Tehran" while Iran vowed further retaliation. An interim Leadership Council has been hastily assembled in Tehran, with senior cleric Ayatollah Alireza Arafi named alongside President Masoud Pezeshkian and Chief Justice Gholamhossein Mohseni Ejei to oversee the supreme leader's duties until a permanent successor is chosen. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has also appointed a new commander in chief, Ahmad Vahidi, after its previous commander General Mohammad Pakpour was killed in the strikes. The scale of the conflict has sent shockwaves through global markets and aviation networks, with more than 1,400 flights cancelled across the Middle East on Sunday alone. Iran's internet has been down for over 24 hours, severely limiting the flow of information from inside the country. World leaders, from Beijing to London, are scrambling to assess the fallout as the prospect of a full-scale US-Iran war becomes increasingly real.

IranKhameneiOperation Epic Fury

News: US-Iran Nuclear Crisis Escalates to Military Strikes

What began as a high-stakes diplomatic standoff over Iran's nuclear programme has escalated into the most significant US military action in the Middle East since Operation Midnight Hammer last June. On February 28, the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure under the banner of "Operation Epic Fury," shattering the fragile diplomatic window that had opened during three rounds of Geneva talks. The trajectory from diplomacy to war unfolded with alarming speed. On February 21, President Trump publicly acknowledged considering limited military strikes while Iran's Foreign Minister Araghchi prepared a counterproposal. By February 26, a third round of nuclear talks had opened in Geneva amid the largest US military buildup in the region since June 2025. Two days later, F-22 stealth fighters and cruise missiles struck Iranian nuclear facilities as Tehran retaliated with attacks on US bases in Bahrain and across the region. The escalation has sent shockwaves through financial markets. WTI crude oil has surged above $66 per barrel, defense stocks have rallied to near-record highs, and 10-year Treasury yields have fallen to 4.02% as investors seek safe-haven assets. Gold prices have broken above $5,200 per ounce. The full economic and geopolitical consequences of Operation Epic Fury are still unfolding, but the shift from diplomatic brinkmanship to open conflict marks a defining moment for markets, energy security, and the global order.

Iran military strikesOperation Epic FuryUS-Iran conflict