Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Vows ‘Most Ferocious Offensive’ After Reported Death Of Ali Khamenei

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has pledged to punish those responsible for the reported killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, promising what it called the “most ferocious offensive operation in history” against the United States and Israel.

In a statement posted on its official Telegram page, the IRGC said, “The hand of revenge of the Iranian nation for a severe, decisive and regrettable punishment for the murderers of the Imam of the Ummah will not let go of them.”

The force added that the IRGC, the Armed Forces, and the Basij would “powerfully continue the path of their leader in defending his legacy, standing firm against internal and external plots and delivering what it described as a lesson-giving punishment to aggressors against the Islamic homeland.”

Iran’s Cabinet also warned that the “great crime will never go unanswered.”

Leadership Uncertainty, Regional Fallout

Khamenei was reported killed in a major US-Israeli strike described as a turning point in Iran’s 46-year Shia-theocratic rule. US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that the 86-year-old cleric had been killed, ending his 36-year leadership.

On Truth Social, Trump said, “He 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.”

Iran has not confirmed his death. As of Sunday evening, there was no clarity on who would fill the leadership vacuum, and it was unclear whether other civilian or military leaders were killed.

Following the strikes, Tehran launched drones and missiles targeting Israel, Qatar, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Kuwait.

The attack came two days after inconclusive nuclear negotiations in Geneva facilitated by Oman. Earlier, Trump had expressed dissatisfaction over the lack of a complete halt to uranium enrichment. Reports on X suggested some Iranians celebrated the news, though no mass uprising was evident. The overall toll of the attacks remained unclear.

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