Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, security chief Larijani and others—Iran’s main leaders were killed in the US-Israeli attack

The ongoing conflict between Iran, the United States and Israel has dealt a severe blow to Iran’s top leadership, with a series of high-profile killings targeting the country’s political and military command structures. Although the President of the United States Donald Trump Despite claims that the war actually resulted in “regime change,” Tehran has moved quickly to replace key figures and maintain continuity in its operations.At the top of the list was Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, who was killed on February 28 when a high-level meeting in Tehran was attacked at the start of the war. His death marks the most significant blow to the Islamic Republic’s leadership in decades.Another significant loss was Ali Larijani, Iran’s national security chief and a long-time pillar of the system, who was killed in an Israeli attack near Tehran on March 17, 2026. His death is widely seen as the second biggest setback for Iran’s establishment after Khamenei.Overall, the conflicts between Iran, the United States, and Israel have escalated into multi-front confrontations. Although diplomatic efforts remain uncertain, attacks and missile strikes continue, and regional influence continues to expand. Iran has denied involvement in mediation efforts, including those proposed by Pakistan, while continuing to launch retaliatory attacks in the region. Amid the escalation, US President Donald Trump claimed Washington was in “serious discussions” with Iran’s “more rational” leadership but warned the US could take military action against critical oil and power infrastructure if talks failed and the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened. Iran denied the statement, saying there were “no direct talks.” The United States and Israel continue to put pressure on Iranian targets, while global energy markets remain volatile amid concerns about disruption in the Strait of Hormuz.Key Iranian figures killed in the conflict: