TEHRAN/NEW YORK: As Iran continues to observe 40 days of national mourning, state media on Friday released what are being described as the final photographs of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, taken moments before the joint US-Israeli airstrikes that claimed his life on February 28.
The images, which have quickly gone viral not only across the region but also around the globe, depict the 86-year-old cleric in a characteristic pose—deeply immersed in study within his compound.
💔 A few minutes before martyrdom…
This is the last image captured by the CCTV camera at the office of the martyred Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei.
Retweet this to reach the world!”🙏 pic.twitter.com/Ep1KTwhVLa— 🇾🇪🇵🇸Support & Reinforcement (@AlymnyAlsq81595) March 27, 2026
Western observers believe the release appears strategically timed by Tehran to reinforce the narrative of “martyrdom” and spiritual devotion, even as the country remains embroiled in the high-intensity military escalation now known as the 2026 Iran War.
The assassination, which occurred on February 28 during the “Operation Epic Fury” strikes that decimated the Supreme Leader’s residence, has sparked sharp criticism from unexpected quarters in the West.
In a widely circulated interview with American journalist Tucker Carlson, former US Marine James Webb issued a stern warning regarding the long-term geopolitical and religious repercussions of the operation. Webb, a vocal critic of the current military trajectory, compared the gravity of the event to a hypothetical strike on the Vatican.
“The martyrdom of Ayatollah Khamenei is equivalent to killing the Pope, the spiritual leader of Catholic Christians, along with his family during the period of Christian fasting,” Webb told Carlson. He argued that the strike transcended political boundaries, touching upon a deep-seated religious identity that resonates with millions of Shia Muslims globally.
During the interview, Webb contended that the tactical “success” of the decapitation strike might prove to be a strategic disaster for Washington. He suggested that instead of triggering a domestic collapse, the strike has served as a catalyst for national unity.
While Western intelligence reports suggest the new leadership is still consolidating its grip on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the regional impact remains volatile as global commodity markets continue to reel from the instability, with supply chains for essential industrial materials and energy remaining under severe strain.
