Iran Confirms Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Is Dead, Announces 40-Day Mourning After US, Israeli Attacks

Tehran: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the architect of the country's anti-US stance, was killed in the joint military operation, carried out by the United States and Israel, Iranian state media confirmed early Sunday. This marks a dramatic escalation in tensions across the Middle East. Iran state television began broadcasting Quranic recitations following the confirmation. Iran also declared 40 days of public mourning and announced a seven-day national holiday.

According to Iranian media reports, Khamenei was killed during coordinated U.S.-Israeli aerial strikes targeting key military and government installations in Tehran and other strategic locations. The strikes reportedly hit the Supreme Leader’s office complex, known as Beit-e Rahbari, where he was said to have been present.

U.S. President Donald Trump said military action would continue “through the week or as long as necessary.” In a statement, Trump called the development the “greatest chance” for the Iranian people to “take back” their country.

The joint assault marks the second direct U.S. strike on Iranian targets in recent months amid ongoing tensions over Tehran’s nuclear programme. Analysts said the killing of Khamenei, who held ultimate authority over Iran’s military, judiciary and foreign policy for more than three decades, could trigger a major leadership vacuum in the absence of a publicly designated successor. 

Iran had earlier retaliated against U.S. and Israeli positions by launching missiles and drones toward Israel and American military bases in the region, according to regional officials.

Iranian Media Confirms Khamenei's Death

State media reported that the 86-year-old was killed in an airstrike targeting his compound in downtown Tehran. Satellite photos from Airbus showed the site heavily bombed.

Israeli media outlets, including Channel 12 and public broadcaster Kan, reported that senior Israeli officials had confirmed Khamenei’s “elimination” and that his body was recovered from the rubble of his compound. Channel 12 further reported that a photograph of Khamenei’s body was shown to President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “The Supreme Leader of Iran Has Reached Martyrdom,” state broadcaster IRIB also reported this morning.

Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issues statement 

Shortly after Iranian media confirmed Khamenei's death, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement. “The most devastating offensive operation in the history of the Islamic Republic of Iran's armed forces will begin toward the occupied territories and American terrorist bases in just moments,” IRGC said. 

Iran’s National Security Council reportedly said Khamenei’s killing would serve as the “launchpad for a great uprising” against what it described as aggressors.

Trump's Declaration

President Donald Trump announced the death hours earlier. “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in history, is dead,” Trump wrote in a social media post. He warned of “heavy and pinpoint bombing” that he said would continue throughout the week and even beyond, part of a lethal assault the U.S. has justified as necessary to dismantle the country's nuclear capabilities.

Trump also said 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.”

In an interview with ABC News, the US President was reportedly asked if Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in the Israel-U.S. attack and he said, “We believe so.” But he also said: “I don’t want to say anything definitively until I see things but we believe he is. And much of their leaders are gone.” Trump said the U.S. had “great intelligence” and that it believes much of the Iranian leadership “is gone.” According to reports, ABC News did not release audio of the interview. 

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu further said that Khamenei's compound had been destroyed.

Strikes That Killed Khamenei Came After Unsuccessful Nuclear Talks

Trump had insisted that he wanted a deal to constrain Iran’s nuclear programme while the country struggled with growing dissent following nationwide protests earlier this year. 

The US had demanded that Iran dismantle its nuclear enrichment program, transfer enriched uranium stockpiles to a third country, curb ballistic missile programme, and halt support for Hezbollah and Houthis. Iran had maintained that the talks must be limited to guarantees about the civilian purpose of its nuclear programme. However the scope of the talks should not extend to its missile programme, its support of regional proxy groups or its own human rights abuses, Iran's stance had noted. After several rounds of discussions failed to pave the way for a replacement of Iran's nuclear deal, it culminated into the exchange of missiles between Iran, and a US-backed Israel on Saturday.  

Iranian authorities have not yet announced details regarding succession or funeral arrangements. Not only did he have final say on all major policies during his decades in power. He led Iran’s clerical establishment and its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, the two main centers of power in the country.

Separate reports from Iranian and Israeli media said several senior Iranian officials were also killed in the strikes, including Defence Minister Aziz Nasirzadeh and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander Mohammad Pakpour. There were also unconfirmed reports that members of Khamenei’s family were among those killed.