The first reports appeared on foreign screens, beyond the reach of most Iranians. On 28 February Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there were signs that the tyrant is no more, suggesting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed in a joint US-Israeli strike. Iranians watching state television, however, encountered silence. Government officials would neither confirm nor deny Khamenei's death. On one of the state broadcaster's channels, IRTV3, one news presenter urged viewers to trust him and the latest information the government had.

Israel and Iran have carried out a new wave of attacks on key cities, fuelling fears of an all-out sustained war, with heavy exchanges now entering a third day. Iranian missiles struck northern Israel, killing at least three people and wounding 13 others, late Saturday into Sunday, according to Israeli media. Israel targeted the Iranian defence ministry headquarters in Tehran early Sunday, according to the semi-official Tasnim news agency. Iranian officials also said the Shahran oil depot, northwest of Tehran, was struck by Israel. Tasnim News said operational and rescue forces arrived at the scene and are still working to extinguish the fire.