Khamenei's Death in March 2026 Strikes Sparks Regional Conflict and Oil Market Shock

On March 1, 2026, Iranian state media confirmed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in joint U.S.-Israel strikes on Tehran. Iran responded with missile attacks on U.S. bases and Israel, while Strait of Hormuz restrictions and over 1,400 flight cancellations raised fears of oil supply disruption and market volatility. An interim council under Ayatollah Alireza Arafi and President Pezeshkian now manages a fraught political transition amid internet controls and renewed regional tensions.