It is exceedingly rare for one country to deliberately and openly assassinate the leader of another sovereign state, even during armed conflict. A civilian leader or military targetA central issue highlighted by the Times is Khamenei’s dual role. Killing a foreign leader in peacetime, absent an imminent armed attack, would generally constitute an unlawful use of force under international law. Domestic legal questionsThe Times also examined whether the war itself was legally initiated under US law. The Times notes that targeting a sovereign head of state is categorically different from targeting a non-state militant leader.

Source: Dhaka Tribune March 03, 2026 13:21 UTC