Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Confirmed Dead After US-Israeli Strikes
Iranian state media has announced the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, a development expected to reshape the country’s political landscape and heighten tensions across the Middle East.
The confirmation came early Sunday, just hours after President Donald Trump revealed the news, describing the moment as Iranians’ “greatest chance” to “take back” their country.
State reports said the 86-year-old cleric was killed during an airstrike that struck his compound in central Tehran. Satellite images from Airbus reportedly showed extensive destruction at the location following the bombardment.
Iranian state television stated that his office reflected how he “consistently stood among the people and at the forefront of his responsibilities, confronting what officials call global arrogance”.
The strike followed coordinated attacks launched on Saturday by the United States and Israel, targeting multiple sites across Iran.
Tehran responded with retaliatory attacks aimed at Israeli territory and US military installations in the region, escalating fears of a broader conflict.
According to the BBC, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said its operation in Tehran focused on venues where high-ranking political and security officials were believed to be meeting.
