CIA helped track Iranian leadership meeting before attack, NYT reports

According to the newspaper's sources, shortly before the planned attack, the CIA focused on determining the whereabouts of Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

Sources said US intelligence had been monitoring the Supreme Leader for months, refining details of his schedule and movements.

The CIA later determined that a meeting of senior Iranian officials would take place on the morning of February 28 at a leadership compound in central Tehran, and that Khamenei would also be present.

According to the sources, the US and Israel decided to adjust the timing of the attack, partly based on the new intelligence. This allowed them to achieve what was described as a decisive and swift victory: the elimination of senior Iranian officials, including Ayatollah Khamenei.

Strikes on Iran and the death of Khamenei

On February 28, Israel, together with the US, carried out a series of strikes on Iran.

In an address, US President Donald Trump said the United States had launched a military campaign to eliminate threats posed by the current regime, adding that the primary goal of the operation was to protect the American people and US allies.

According to media reports, Trump ordered a large-scale air assault on Iran after prolonged lobbying by Israel and Saudi Arabia. As a result of the strikes, Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed.

At least four members of Khamenei's family and several high-ranking officials were also killed in the series of US and Israeli missile strikes.

Iranian state television confirmed the deaths of the country’s defense minister and chief of the General Staff during the airstrike.

Today, Iran appointed an acting Supreme Leader following the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

The position was taken by senior cleric Ayatollah Alireza Arafi. Under the country's constitution, he joined the temporary leadership council, which will perform the duties of head of state until a successor is elected.