Iranian state media confirms death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a major attack by Israel and the United States, Iranian state media confirmed early Sunday, throwing the future of the Islamic Republic into doubt and raising the risk of regional instability.
President Donald Trump announced the death hours earlier, saying it gave Iranians their “greatest chance” to “take back” their country.
State media reported that the 86-year-old was killed in an airstrike targeting his compound in downtown Tehran. Satellite photos from Airbus showed that the site was heavily bombed.
His death at his office “showed that he consistently stood among the people and at the forefront of his responsibilities, confronting what officials call global arrogance,” state TV said.
Some of the first strikes appeared to hit areas around the offices of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Iranian media reported strikes nationwide. Smoke could be seen rising from the capital.
Hours after the strikes, Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones toward Israel and U.S. military bases in the region.
The U.S. president justified the military action by claiming that Iran has continued to develop its nuclear program and plans to develop missiles that can reach the U.S. Still, Trump’s decision to attack pulls him toward the kind of overseas conflict he once criticized — and has key members of Congress demanding a swift vote on a war powers resolution
