A man holds a picture of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and another of slain Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Commander Qasem Soleimani during a memorial ceremony marking the 40th day of mourning for victims of “terrorism” killed in previous anti-government protests in Iran, at the Tehran Musalla on February 17, 2026.
Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images
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Atta Kenare/AFP via Getty Images
In the opening strike of their war on Iran, the US and Israel killed the Islamic Republic’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. It is an exceedingly rare instance of democracies killing a foreign head of state.
It’s not the first time the United States has been involved in the killing of a foreign leader, but it’s something U.S. leaders and the American public have long wrestled with.
NPR’s Ryan Lucas reports.
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This episode was produced by Mallory Yu and Erika Ryan, with audio engineering by Jay Czys.
It was edited by John Ketchum and Anna Yukhanov.
Our executive producer is Sami Yenigun.
