Iranian state media have confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei following joint United States and Israeli strikes, and announced a 40-day national mourning period. The confirmation comes after earlier reports by Tasnim and Mehr news agencies suggested he remained “steadfast and firm in commanding the field.” Khamenei, 86, had led Iran since 1989 and held ultimate authority over the country’s government, military and judiciary.
US President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social that Khamenei was killed in coordinated strikes that began early Saturday, describing the development as a major turning point. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier stated there were “growing signs” that the Iranian leader had been killed, while Reuters reported, citing a senior Israeli official, that his body had been located.
Khamenei succeeded Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, founder of Iran’s Islamic Republic, in 1989. Analysts say his reported death introduces uncertainty into the ongoing conflict, with expectations that a governing council could assume leadership. Iranian media report that the strikes targeted 24 provinces, resulting in at least 201 deaths, including casualties at two schools, as tensions continue to escalate in the region.
