President Trump confirmed the death of Iran’s supreme leader on Truth Social, writing, “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead.” Senior administration officials tell CBS News the U.S. struck now because they identified a near‑term threat — missiles Iran intended to use potentially in a preemptive attack — even as long‑term concerns about Tehran’s nuclear ambitions continued.
Officials say the June operation — dubbed Operation Midnight Hammer — destroyed significant Iranian nuclear infrastructure, but the administration saw signs Iran was already rebuilding. That, plus evidence of a possible short‑term missile threat, led senior officials to conclude waiting would raise the risk of substantially higher American casualties and damage.
The administration has been pursuing diplomacy and trying to reach a new deal with Iran while keeping military options on the table. Officials say President Trump weighed another strike as he considered the timing and the risks, and they argued the action was necessary now because Iran “could have struck first.”
Trump has previously called for regime change in Iran and urged civilians to take over the government. In a later conversation with reporters, he appeared to soften that stance, saying diplomacy is more likely now than before. Officials caution this remains an unprecedented moment with many unanswered questions about what happens next and who will assume power in Iran.