Iranian state media has confirmed the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader, following a wave of missile strikes carried out by Israel and the United States on Saturday.
According to official reports, several members of Khamenei’s family were also killed in the attack. They include his daughter, grandchild, daughter in law, and son in law.
For several hours after the strikes, uncertainty surrounded Khamenei’s fate. Reports and speculation spread quickly across the world. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stopped short of a direct confirmation, saying only that “there are many signs the supreme leader is no longer with us.”
Early Sunday morning, Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB announced his death. “The Supreme Leader of Iran has reached martyrdom,” the broadcaster said. Another state affiliated outlet, Mehr News, described Khamenei as a scholar and fighter who “sacrificed his life” and has now joined other martyrs.
Iran has declared 40 days of national mourning in his honour.
The United States President, Donald Trump, had earlier announced Khamenei’s death on his Truth Social platform. In a strongly worded post, Trump described the Iranian leader as “one of the most evil people in history” and said his death was justice for Iranians, Americans, and others around the world who, he claimed, had suffered under Khamenei’s leadership.
Trump also said the operation was carried out using advanced intelligence and tracking systems in close cooperation with Israel. In an earlier address, he stated that the United States was pursuing regime change in Iran and called on the Iranian people to “take back their country.”
Reports indicate that Khamenei was meeting with senior aides when the building they were in was hit.
Iran responded with drone attacks across several Gulf countries. Targets reportedly included airports and shopping areas in Dubai.
As tensions escalated, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait closed their airspace on Saturday. Iranian strikes were said to be aimed at both civilian and military assets linked to the United States across the Middle East.
The developments mark a dramatic and dangerous new chapter in the conflict, with the region now bracing for further fallout.
