Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei dead, prompting US strikes and regional tension

Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei died in late February 2026, leading to a state funeral in Tehran, Qom and other cities on 6 July 2026 that was heavily staged with security personnel and digital imagery. The Iranian foreign ministry called recent U.S. attacks a “brutal violation of international law.” The U.S. Central Command reported a fourth wave of airstrikes that hit about 140 targets in western and southern Iran, saying they responded to Iranian actions against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared the strait closed and warned of retaliation. President Donald Trump, speaking on Fox Business, said the United States might try to “wipe out” the IRGC, echoing earlier threats to bomb Iranian assets. The U.S. Treasury also announced sanctions on seven individuals and entities linked to the IRGC’s weapons procurement. In the aftermath of Khamenei’s death, his son Mojtaba pledged revenge against those he called “criminal murderers.” European powers including Germany, France and the United Kingdom have signaled support for free navigation of the Hormuz passage, while Iran seeks to assert its rights as a littoral state and has hinted at charging fees for the waterway.