President Donald Trump publicly declared Khamenei’s death on social media late Saturday, characterizing the event as “justice for the Iranian people.”
In a stunning turn of events that has shaken the Middle East to its core, Iranian state media confirmed early Sunday that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a series of coordinated Israeli and United States military strikes late Saturday.
The announcement came after hours of conflicting reports from U.S. officials, Israeli leaders, and Tehran’s own outlets. Iranian state television announced a 40-day national mourning period and seven days of public holidays, while cities across the Islamic Republic braced for fallout.
Eyewitnesses in the capital reported explosions and plumes of smoke over Tehran early Saturday. President Donald Trump publicly declared Khamenei’s death on social media late Saturday, characterizing the event as “justice for the Iranian people.” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu echoed the claims, saying there were “growing indications” that the body of the 86-year-old leader had been recovered.
Despite the brutal attack on Iran’s power structure, including reports of senior military leaders killed alongside Khamenei, the Islamic Republic did not remain silent. Within hours, Tehran launched significant missile and drone counterattacks against Israeli cities and U.S. bases in the Gulf, striking across multiple countries and heightening fears of a wider regional war. Civilians in several nations are reported injured or killed as a result of the retaliatory strikes, with disruptions in air travel and escalating military alerts.
Inside Iran, the death of its supreme leader has thrown the country into political uncertainty. Khamenei, who held ultimate authority over Iran’s government, military, and judiciary since 1989, leaves behind a leadership vacuum with no clear successor yet named. Observers say the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps may assert greater influence amid the crisis, while opposition groups call for regime change.
As international leaders urge de-escalation, global markets, including oil prices, have reacted sharply to the news. The world now watches as diplomatic channels scramble to contain what could rapidly become the most dangerous regional conflict in decades.