Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Killed In US-Israeli Strikes; Iran Declares 40-Day Mourning

Iran’s state media confirmed on Sunday that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in joint US-Israeli airstrikes. The Iranian government announced a 40-day national mourning period following reports of his death.

According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, four of Khamenei’s relatives, including his daughter, grandchild, and son-in-law, were also killed in the strikes, citing sources.

Israeli media reported on Saturday that Khamenei had been killed in the attacks and that his body had been found. Iranian state media later confirmed his death.

Trump Hails Strike, Vows Continued Campaign

US President Donald Trump announced on Truth Social that the Iranian Supreme Leader had been killed in coordinated US-Israeli strikes, describing it as the “single greatest chance” for Iranians to reclaim control of their country.

“Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead,” Trump said in a statement.

He described it as ‘Justice for the people of Iran’ and for “all Great Americans, and those people from many Countries throughout the World, that have been killed or mutilated by Khamenei and his gang of bloodthirsty THUGS.”

Trump added that Khamenei “was unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems and, working closely with Israel, there was not a thing he, or the other leaders that have been killed along with him, could do.”

He also said the massive military campaign against Iran would continue. “The heavy and pinpoint bombing, however, will continue, uninterrupted throughout the week or, as long as necessary to achieve our objective of PEACE THROUGHOUT THE MIDDLE EAST AND, INDEED, THE WORLD!” Trump said.

In an earlier interview with NBC News, Trump said ‘most’ of Iran’s senior leadership is ‘gone,’ adding that ‘The people that make all the decisions, most of them are gone.’