Iran’s state broadcaster early Sunday officially announced the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The announcement was made at approximately 5:00 a.m. local time (0130 GMT), with the channel airing archival footage of the longtime leader accompanied by a black mourning banner. The broadcast did not provide details regarding the circumstances of his death or reference earlier claims of a large-scale US-Israel strike.
Khamenei, aged 86, had served as Iran’s Supreme Leader since 1989, making him one of the longest-serving political figures in the Middle East.
A day before the state television confirmation, US President Donald Trump had publicly claimed that Khamenei was killed during air strikes. Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump described the Iranian leader in strongly critical terms and said the operation was a major turning point.
In his statement, Trump asserted that the Iranian leader could not evade advanced US intelligence systems and suggested that the development presented an opportunity for the Iranian people to reclaim control of their country.
The US president also claimed that some members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), military, and security services were seeking assurances or immunity. He further stated that military operations would continue for as long as necessary to achieve broader regional security objectives.
As of the time of reporting, Iranian authorities have not released additional official details regarding the cause of death or the broader implications for the country’s leadership structure.
— AFP