a hardline iranian media figure alleged on social media that supreme leader khamenei died on february 28 during us-israel airstrikes, and that president pezeshkian and the parliament speaker were involved in the surrounding events. whether or not the death claim is true, the fact that regime-aligned figures are publicly accusing the sitting president in connection with the supreme leader's fate signals an open power struggle at the top of the iranian state. prediction markets on pezeshkian's departure ticked up on the claim.