Iran’s state television has officially announced the death of the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, marking a dramatic turn in the escalating tensions in the Middle East.
The announcement was made at about 5:00 a.m. local time (0130 GMT) on Sunday.
The broadcaster aired archival footage of the late leader against a black backdrop, traditionally used in Iran to signal national mourning. No immediate details were provided regarding the circumstances surrounding his death
Khamenei, 86, had led the Islamic Republic since 1989, making him one of the longest-serving heads of state in the region.
The confirmation from Tehran followed a statement issued on Saturday by former United States President Donald Trump, who claimed that Khamenei had been killed in air strikes. Before the state television broadcast, Iranian authorities had not publicly verified the claim.
In a post shared on his Truth Social platform, Trump described Khamenei as “one of the most evil people in history” and said his death represented “justice for the people of Iran and for Americans and others around the world.”
He further stated, “This gives the Iranian people their greatest chance to take back their country,” adding that U.S. military operations would continue “as long as necessary to achieve our objective of peace throughout the Middle East.”
Iranian state media did not reference any foreign attack during its announcement, and there has been no official statement from Iran’s armed forces or the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps regarding the reported air strikes.
The development comes amid heightened hostilities between Iran, the United States, and Israel, with fears of wider regional instability growing.
