Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ruled Iran for decades, fuelled by paranoia, absolute power and a belief in his own divine destiny.

He was the country’s supreme leader, and he led with supreme self-confidence.

An arch foe of Donald Trump, he was described by the US president as “one of the most evil people in history”.

Mr Trump called the lethal strike on Khamenei the “single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country” – inciting Iranians to bring about regime change.

Iranian state media confirmed the 86-year-old’s death but did not specify the cause.

Khamenei was just 50 years old when he was appointed as successor to Iran’s first supreme leader, Ruhollah Khomeini.

The role he inherited was already endowed with enormous control, yet Khamenei added to it. The Iran he moulded revolved entirely around him.

His regime faced many protests and was deeply unpopular with many Iranians. But the network of secret informants and guards that he created, overseen by the loyal Revolutionary Guard, held sway.

Most were too scared to protest, not least because they saw what happened to those who did openly express dissent.

In 2022, for instance, protests sprang up after the death, in police custody, of Mahsa Amini, the young woman accused of violating strict dress codes.

Khamenei and his faithful security forces were violent in their response.

More than 7,000 people were killed during the unrest, according to one human rights group. Nearly 53,000 protesters were believed to have been arrested.

Yet Khamenei was as defiant as he was indifferent, saying at the time “enemies” who thought they could “uproot the tree of the Islamic Republic” were “completely wrong”.

He was driven by a dogmatic certainty that there was a path that needed to be followed, regardless of the consequences.

Evolution of an interest in religion and politics

Khamenei was born and raised in Mashhad, home to Iran’s holiest shrine. His childhood saw him receive a religious education that he combined with an interest in politics.

Khamenei joined a religious opposition movement aimed at overthrowing Iran’s monarchy, many years before the 1979 revolution that would eventually usher in the Islamic Republic.

He played a key part in that revolution and was a trusted, close confidant of Ayatollah Khomeini, earning a succession of significant roles. In 1981, Khamenei survived an assassination attempt that cost him the use of his right arm. Later that year, he was elected president with 97% of the vote – the previous president had been assassinated.

Khamenei served two terms as president before assuming the role of supreme leader when Khomeini died.

He was not a clear-cut choice, lacking the religious credentials that the constitution demanded, but in the end, the constitution was changed and, despite his own protestations of unworthiness, Khamenei took on the position.

A proposal to share power among a council, in order to maintain social unity, was shelved.

A cult of personality

His decades in power were characterised by a cult of personality, which Khamenei absolutely encouraged, and by his ability to quickly load all of Iran’s institutions with leaders who were absolutely loyal to him.

His decrees were absolute; loyalty was expected. Iran’s economy meandered and declined, particularly as he diverted billions and billions of dollars towards developing a nuclear programme that placed him at odds with so many Western powers, and which led to punitive sanctions that hobbled his nation.

A nuclear deal was signed in 2015 to limit Iran’s activities in return for the lifting of trade restrictions, but Iranians saw no improvement, again taking to the streets in frustration at life under sanctions, with now familiar personal grievances against their leader.

Read more:
Khamenei admits thousands died in Iran protests
Analysis: How the Iran uprising unfolded

The deal eventually unravelled under President Trump, leaving Iran’s economy isolated and the supreme leader furious.

“Trump will die and his body will turn into ashes and food for worms and ants, but the Islamic Republic will continue to stand”, Khamenei said of Trump with a typical rhetorical flourish. America was the “Great Satan” in Khamenei’s mind.

Israel was the “Little Satan”, the country he vowed to destroy.

The supreme leader’s later years of life saw Iran form an Axis of Resistance, united against Israeli and American influence in the Middle East.

Under his watch, Iran armed Russia with Iranian-made drones to fire at Ukraine, and Tehran bankrolled its two main proxies in the region, Hezbollah and Hamas, to target its sworn enemy, Israel.

Khamenei supported Hamas’s 7 October attacks and encouraged and bankrolled Hezbollah’s subsequent assaults from Lebanon.

He backed the Houthis in Yemen, as well as other insurgent groups across the region and then launched his own missile strikes on Israel. But when Israel responded, with a precision and determination that came from years of planning, Khamenei suddenly seemed to have no answers.

The furious rhetoric was still there, but the air of invulnerability seemed to have slipped away. The supreme leader’s supreme self-confidence no longer seemed so assured.

The world has changed profoundly since Ali Khamenei took power. How, when and by whom he is replaced is a question of huge significance: for Iran, the Middle East and across the globe.

The initiative, which is to launch next week, will seek advice from experts, parents, young people, teachers, and industry representatives on which measures should be implemented to improve online safety for children, a spokesperson for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) said on Saturday.

A woman accused of killing her three children before throwing herself out of a window has appeared in-person in court for the first time.

A mum has appeared in-person in court for the first time accused of killing her three children before throwing herself out of a window. Lindsay Clancy, 35, asked husband Patrick if he could go to a nearby chemist and pick up some medication for one of their children on his way for a takeaway – but in the time he was out of the house, his three children – Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, 8-months-old – all died.

Lindsay has been accused of strangling her three children with fitness bands in the basement of their home, and she has pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. After the alleged crime, she jumped out of her bedroom window, and became paralysed below the neck. She has previously appeared at court hearings via-video link from hospital, where her parents have been visiting her, but last week she made her first in-person appearance in a wheelchair.

Her legal representative has asked for the trial to be split into two parts, the first which will examine her alleged role in the deaths of her children, and the second which would take place if she is found guilty of their murder. This next trial would interrogate and decide if she was suffering from post-natal psychosis at the time, reports the Mirror.

Her mother, Paula, who has been visiting Lindsay at the Tewksbury State Hospital where she has been receiving treatment, told news outlets about her daughter: “She’s a lovely mother, she always has been”.

Lindsay’s father has also been going to see his daughter on a daily basis at the hospital in Massachusetts. Her husband Patrick has launched a civil wrongful death suit against Lindsay’s former nurse practitioner and psychiatrist, accusing them of overprescribing her medications “to the point where she heard voices,” The Sun reports.

Lindsay had reportedly been given antidepressants and mood stabilisers, and was on 12 different medications at the time of her children’s deaths. Just weeks before she had left a residential facility where she had spent five days being treated for mental health issues and had been given two new prescriptions.

It’s claimed that Patrick was not informed that Lindsay was so unwell she should not be left alone. Her legal team also alleges that some of the medications cause severe side effects, including “homicidal and suicidal ideation.”

In December 2022, she was evaluated by medical professionals for post-natal depression and was told she did not have the symptoms that indicated she had developed it, but later that month she admitted she was having suicidal thoughts and thinking about hurting her children, which her husband Patrick reported to the police.

On January 1 2023, she admitted herself to McLean Psychiatric Hospital in Belmont, where she spent five days. Upon leaving there was no record of an indication that she was a danger to other people or herself.

Just three weeks later, Patrick told a friend who had come round for dinner that Lindsay was struggling intensely. The following day, January 23, she wrote a note to herself admitting she has “a touch of postpartum anxiety.”

The next day would be the last of her three children’s lives. It began filled with the usual appointments and outings that a young mother might regularly undertake: Lindsay took her eldest child to the doctor, and then played in the snow with her kids in the afternoon. She called a pharmacy enquiring about a laxative for one of the children, and asked her husband to pick it up while he went to grab them a takeaway from a local restaurant.

Just after 5.30pm he spoke with Lindsay on the phone and she confirmed which would the right medication to get for their child. Half an hour later he came back to the property they lived at in Duxbury, Massachusetts, to find “silence”.

The door to the couple’s bedroom was locked and he claimed that when he got inside the room the window was open and there was blood on the floor. Lindsay lay severely injured on the ground outside.

He called the emergency services and asked his wife where the children were: he found their bodies in the basement. He tried to revive his children but was unsuccessful, telling police who arrived “she killed the kids”.

Lindsay has alleged that she heard voices in her head that day and claimed that a man told her to kill her children. She has been on suicide watch in hospital after her arrest and her full trial is due to take place in July at Plymouth Superior Court, US, where it will be decided if she had mental capacity and legal responsibility.

For emotional support you can call the Samaritans 24-hour helpline on 116 123, email **jo@samaritans.org, visit a Samaritans branch in person or go to the Samaritans website.

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The US and Israel launched attacks across Iran on Saturday, with US President Donald Trump later saying Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Khamenei’s compound in Tehran had been destroyed in a “powerful, surprise strike”.

Iranian authorities have not confirmed Khamenei’s death, and Iranian news agencies have reported he is “steadfast and firm in commanding the field”.

Iran responded to the US-Israel attack by launching missiles and drones towards Israel and four Gulf Arab countries which host US military bases: Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE.

Video produced by Amy Walker.

More on this story.

Donald Trump has claimed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is dead following US and Israeli strikes, calling him ‘one of the most evil people in history’ – but Iran disputes the reports

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Donald Trump has spoken out following reports that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei may have perished after US and Israeli strikes on Iran overnight, though Iran has disputed these claims.

The US President asserts that Khamenei has died, branding him “one of the most evil people in History” and suggesting this development aligns with his aims to establish peace across the Middle East, reports the Daily Star.

Taking to Truth Social, he declared: “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead. This is not only Justice for the people of Iran, but for all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS.

“He was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do. This is the single greatest chance for the Iranian people to take back their Country.

“We are hearing that many of their IRGC, Military, and other Security and Police Forces, no longer want to fight, and are looking for Immunity from us. As I said last night, “Now they can have Immunity, later they only get Death! Hopefully, the IRGC and Police will peacefully merge with the Iranian Patriots, and work together as a unit to bring back the Country to the Greatness it deserves.

“That process should soon be starting in that, not only the death of Khamenei but the Country has been, in only one day, very much destroyed and, even, obliterated. The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!”

The US President spoke earlier to NBC News before his Truth Social post tonight and when asked about reports of the death of the Iranian Supreme Leader, he responded: “We feel that is a correct story.”

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed in a significant attack on Iran launched by Israel and the United States, Israeli officials informed The Associated Press on Saturday. However, Iran has since refuted claims of his demise.In a brief phone interview with NBC News, Trump further stated that “a large amount of leadership” of Iran had been eliminated, clarifying: “I don’t mean like two people.”

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He also claimed that “most” of Iran’s senior leadership is “gone,” including many decision-makers. When questioned about who might succeed Iran’s supreme leader, Trump quipped, “I don’t know. But at some point they’ll be calling me to ask who I’d like,” before acknowledging he was “only being a little sarcastic” with the remark.

The purported killing of the Islamic Republic’s second-ever leader, who had named no heir apparent, would plunge its future into uncertainty and heighten the likelihood of prolonged conflict amid Iranian vows of vengeance.During a nationally broadcast statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared there were “growing signs” that Khamenei had perished when Israel targeted his compound in the early hours of Saturday morning.

Following the address, two Israeli officials confirmed his death had been verified.

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Both sources requested anonymity ahead of an official declaration and provided no additional information.

Khamenei took over from Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, who spearheaded the 1979 Islamic Revolution. He wielded ultimate authority over all significant policy matters, commanding Iran’s clerical hierarchy and its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard – the twin pillars of power within the nation’s theocratic system.

As the assault on Iran progressed, President Donald Trump called upon the Iranian people to “seize control of your destiny” by mounting an uprising against the Islamic regime.In footage announcing the “major combat operations,” Trump addressed Iranians directly: “when we are finished, take over your government. It will be yours to take. This will be probably your only chance for generations.”

Dr Oliver Denton, a member of the British Medical Association’s (BMA) private practice committee, says: “We can’t be definitive about why we’re seeing a rise in doctors practising privately, but with growing pressures within the NHS it is no wonder more may be considering looking to work outside the health service.”

A challenge of bad weather, surprises fencing, cheese toasties and an urgent need for the toilet all for a cause close to trail runner Lizzie’s heart

Many people like to run to get fit but for Lizzie Gatherer an outdoor session is a more challenging experience. Over the years she has built up her experience and endurance to tackle many miles and many mountains and valleys to become an accomplished trail runner, someone running trail distances longer than a marathon.

But on Saturday, February 21 2026 a cold, wet and windy Bannau Brechioniog National Park and its rough terrain was the enemy to conquer with a trail run of over 70 miles waiting for Lizzie.

But this most epic of challenges came with a serious objective, raising money for Prostate Cancer UK and to raise awareness but with an element of fun too, with the route across the mountains, when plotted out on exercise app Strava, resembling the shape of a man’s penis and balls.

READ MORE: ‘I fell through a roof and almost died and it’s the best thing that could have happened to me’

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The route has recently become a well-known way to add interest to a session in the area but Terry Rosoman, age 38, took it to the next level and ran the largest GPS drawing of a penis on the Strava app, raising money for Movember in 2025. Ensure our latest news and sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings.

Lizzie contacted Terry to see if doing the same was appropriate and he was very pleased to give her support and encouragement – so then the planning and the training could begin.

The idea to follow in Terry’s footsteps came out of a personal reason for Lizzie after she found out that her father-in-law had been diagnosed and a number of her male running friends were also affected.

According to Prostate Cancer UK one in eight men will be diagnosed, and for black men the risk is double. The charity’s core mission is to create a future where “no man dies from prostate cancer” and to also encourage men to go to their GP to get checked which begins with a blood test.

Of course such a gruelling challenge takes planning, a support team, scenario testing, route planning and checking and many hours of training, even for an experienced runner like Lizzie, so just deciding to go for a walk in the national park without any knowledge, experience or equipment is very dangerous.

Lizzie also says it is very important that other people know when you are going, the route you are taking and the estimated time of arrival, because the weather suddenly deteriorating or getting lost and encountering dangerous terrain can get you in trouble and needing to be rescued, end up in an injury, or worse.

But even experienced terrain runners can get caught out and for Lizzie and the team it was an unforeseen change in fencing by a local farmer just within the last month that threw them off track and ended in them running through thick bracken and foliage before finding their route again thanks to their phone navigation, with map and compass as a back up.

The weather wasn’t their biggest supporter either. The day began dry and sunny but as the hours of gruelling running passed so did the fine weather and driving rain and a substantial dip in temperatures followed, making the conditions almost unbearable.

Lizzie says: “The wind hurt our faces and it was horizontal ice cold rain and it was tough especially as there’s no shelter on the ridge line, you are totally exposed to the elements, you can’t get away from it.”

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But when there were tough times Lizzie was carrying in her pocket a rather intriguing source of support – a stone. A stranger had donated a noticeable sum to Lizzie’s go fund me campaign and when she reached out he explained his father had died of prostate cancer and was there any way she could take a memory stone with her and place it on the route.

She says: “The highest point on the route is Waun Fach, about 40 miles into the run, and it was pretty bad conditions and all three of us were borderline not warm enough, and I was just beginning to think that this was miserable.

“As I got an extra layer of clothes out of my bag I saw the stone in there and the next climb was the mountain and I saw that stone and I thought ‘what are you complaining about!’ – it was then like I had an extra burst of energy going up that mountain.

“It was quite emotional placing the rock there, I did have a cry, and had a moment of thought, I’ve sent the video to the son and he is so grateful.”

Lizzie began the challenge at 5.00am and finished at 11.54pm which she is very happy with, her aim was to do it in one day. She says: “Sometimes my face hurt but not from the weather but from smiling, I literally smiled the whole time.”

But Lizzie is very keen to share the joy, saying without her friends it wouldn’t have happened. For the majority of the run Lizzie had some company with friends joining her in shifts and that included helping her with food requirements.

There was a pit stop in Hay-on-Wye consisting of a cheese toasty and hot chocolate with cream marshmallows, and every hour while still on the move a snack such as hula hoops, cocktail sausages, and a smack’d bar and 250ml of fluid with electrolytes.

Lizzie says: “Even my friend Jules’ husband found us on the route to drop off a cheese and pickle sandwich and swig of coffee when in the last five miles I was starting to get hungry, and that gave me a bit of extra energy!”

Of all the questions that Lizzie is asked, not just about this challenge but about running for many miles in general, is not about training or nutrition but about the toilet.

In Crickhowell, after a stop for cheesy chips and a swig of coffee, the inevitable happened and she needed the toilet. Luckily there was a pub nearby called The Bridge Inn but there was no time to stop for a pint.

Lizzie says: “I walked in and it was at that time empty, with two bar staff at the time, so I couldn’t just sneak in so I said ‘hello I’m 50 miles running into a route shaped like a giant penis for prostate cancer and I really need a poo, can I use your toilet?! And they were lovely and said yes.”

There was also a moment at the pub that helped Lizzie when the section of the route she was dreading the most, one and half miles on the road with no pavement no-one running with her.

She explains: “Their dog Teddy was all over me, cuddling into me, giving his poor and the lady said he’s never like this with anybody. It was just before the section on the road I was dreading and I left the pub with a spring in my step thanks to Teddy.”

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Backed up by a friend in his car driving slowly behind her with his hazard lights on, Lizzie conquered this section of the challenge and even managed to make up the time lost on the mountain due to the bad weather conditions.

After the thrill of the achievement shared with her friends Lizzie had to drive home. She says: “I got stuck in traffic for over three hours, when I got out of the car my legs were so stiff and I almost had to crab walk to the house! My legs know they have worked hard but I was so excited about the day that I couldn’t sleep at all that night!”

Next year Lizzie intends to challenge herself again, this time raising money and awareness for a woman’s health charity, no doubt with the route resembling a woman’s personal bits, she adds :”It’s really important to me to try and help raise awareness for health related causes.” You can find Lizzie’s go fund me page here.

Most accidents that occur during climbing are down to “poor planning”, says Matt Cooper, a mountain rescue team member in Wales and founder of the Mountaineering Company. This includes not having suitable clothing and equipment, like crampons and an ice axe, not checking and fully understanding the weather forecast, like which wind speeds are too strong, and not navigating properly, he says.

Dubai Airports confirmed an incident at Dubai International Airport on Saturday night with four people injured and emergency response teams activated

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Accounts have emerged of an ‘attack’ at a Dubai airport amidst a wave of retaliatory strikes targeting multiple locations across the Middle East.

Dubai International Airport was the scene of an incident on Saturday evening, Dubai Airports has confirmed this evening (Saturday). Footage and photographs spreading across social media platforms depict individuals, including some with injuries, fleeing the smoke-laden terminal.

Several people sustained injuries during the incident and were given immediate medical attention on site. Dubai Airports stated that further information would be released once more details emerged, reports the Daily Star.

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The development follows Iran’s launch of strikes against various targets throughout the Middle East in the wake of the US and Israel’s Operation Epic Fury.

Authorities in Dubai acknowledged they were dealing with an active situation at the airport. In a statement, Dubai media office said: “Dubai Airports has confirmed an incident at Dubai International Airport (DXB) just moments ago.

“Emergency response teams have been activated immediately, and the incident is being handled in coordination with the relevant authorities.

“This has resulted in four injuries, and the necessary urgent medical assistance has been provided to them.”

The Brit Awards 2026 featured an awkward moment where I’m A Celebrity star Angry Ginge’s comment was censored during the live ITV broadcast, but fans worked out what was said.

The audience at the Brit Awards ceremony were left in shock after I’m A Celebrity winner Angry Ginge ‘swore’ while presenting an award. The streamer took to the stage to hand out an award, but as he started talking, the audio cut out.

It became clear that Morgan Burtwistle was being censored. On stage with him was Darts champion Luke Littler, who appeared awkward about it, and said: “Okay…” before moving things on. Angry Ginge appeared to smirk, as though he wasn’t meant to say what he did.

Those in the venue at the Co-op Live in Manchester witnessed the moment and heard what was actually said, while fans at home also believed they had figured it out. Taking to X, they all commented the same thing, appearing to figure out what he’d said that got bleeped out, reports the Mirror.

Taking to social media, one fan said: “Angry Ginge just called London a s******e and it got bleeped.” Another added: “They cut Angry Ginge saying London is a s******e. Once again the truth is censored.”

A third continued: “angry ginge saying the brits are in manchester bc london is a s******e is so real.” A fourth fan posted: “Angry Ginge deffo said ‘London is a s******e’ and they censored it.” The Mirror was in attendance and has confirmed this was the case.

Ahead of Saturday night, it was revealed that tributes would be made to some of the music artists that have recently passed away. Ozzy Osbourne is set to be honoured with Robbie Williams fronting a super group paying tribute to the star. It comes seven months after the Black Sabbath frontman died aged 76.

The performance will be a special arrangement of ‘No More Tears’ – the title track from Ozzy’s multi-million selling 1991 album of the same name. It was curated by Ozzy’s wife, Sharon Osbourne, and will boast a phenomenal line up of British and international musical talent.

It will feature musicians who played as part of Ozzy’s band over the years, including Adam Wakeman, Robert Trujillo, Tommy Clufetos and Zakk Wylde. The makeshift group will be fronted by Robbie, who was invited personally by Sharon to be part of this special moment.

BRIT Awards bosses are also set to honour Stone Roses bassist Mani at Saturday night’s show – led by Charlatans legend Tim Burgess. Gary ‘Mani’ Mounfield died suddenly aged 63 last November, and close pal Tim will be on hand to deliver an emotional speech.

A source said: “Tim is set to present the In Memoriam section, but before he does so, he is primed to talk about Mani who was both a dear friend and mentor. The fact that Mani was from Manchester too – and the awards is being held there for the first time – means it will be a really special moment. Mani will then feature heavily in the section, as will other greats we have lost including Ozzy Osbourne.”

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