Iran Confirms Death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei After US-Israeli Strikes

Iran has confirmed the death of its Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, following joint military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel, according to Iranian state television. The announcement ends hours of uncertainty after conflicting reports about his condition and marks one of the most dramatic moments in the country’s modern political history.

State media reported that Khamenei was killed at his office during the attacks, which began early Saturday. A 40-day nationwide mourning period has been declared in honor of the leader, who had ruled Iran since 1989 and held ultimate authority over the state, military, and judiciary.

Earlier in the day, US President Donald Trump claimed on his Truth Social platform that Khamenei had been killed, describing the operation as a decisive blow against Iran’s leadership. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said there were “growing signs” confirming the Iranian leader’s death.

The confirmation came after Iran’s Tasnim and Mehr news agencies had initially reported that Khamenei remained alive and in control. Later, however, official outlets acknowledged his death as the conflict continued to intensify.

Khamenei succeeded Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the architect of Iran’s 1979 Islamic Revolution, and became a central figure in shaping Iran’s domestic and foreign policies for more than three decades. Analysts say his death introduces deep uncertainty into Iran’s political future, despite long-standing contingency plans for a leadership transition.

The strikes, which reportedly hit multiple provinces, have raised fears of wider regional escalation. The United Nations has urged restraint, with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calling for an immediate de-escalation and warning that continued military action could trigger uncontrollable consequences across the Middle East.

As Iran mourns its most powerful figure, attention now turns to how the country’s leadership structure will respond and whether the ongoing conflict will further expand in the days ahead.