Tehran/Washington, March 1 (ANI): Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has reportedly been killed in joint Israeli-US airstrikes on Tehran, according to Iranian state media, marking a dramatic turning point in Middle East tensions and the future of the Islamic Republic.
Iran’s state broadcaster Press TV announced on X that the “Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei [was] martyred in US-Israeli attacks on Iran.” Reuters, citing Iranian state media, reported that the government has declared 40 days of public mourning following his death.
The strikes, reportedly conducted under the operation names Epic Fury and Lion’s Roar, targeted key sites in Tehran on Saturday. According to Tasnim News Agency, Khamenei was killed in the early hours of Sunday while at his workplace in the Leader’s Residence. The agency described the incident as a “cowardly attack” carried out while he was performing official duties.
The official Farsi account of Khamenei acknowledged his death and posted a verse from Surah Al-Ahzab (33:23) on X, stating: “Among the believers are men who have been true to the covenant they made with Allah. Some of them have fulfilled their vow [by death], and some are still waiting, and they have not changed [their commitment] in the least.”
Iran has lowered flags to half-mast, and public gatherings are being organized nationwide to honor the late leader. In Shia Islam, the 40th day after death (Arba’een) holds deep spiritual significance. Observers note that the extended mourning period may provide Iran’s clerical establishment time to manage a sensitive leadership transition behind closed doors.
Khamenei, who succeeded Ruhollah Khomeini in 1989, led Iran for 37 years and was widely seen as the central figure in the Islamic Republic’s political and religious structure. His tenure was marked by staunch opposition to Western influence and longstanding hostility toward Israel and the United States.
Conflicting Reports and Celebrations
Earlier, The Times of Israel had cited Iranian state media reporting that Khamenei’s daughter, grandchild, daughter-in-law, and son-in-law were also killed in the strikes. At that time, there had been no official confirmation of Khamenei’s fate.
Subsequently, multiple international outlets including CNN and Fox News reported scenes of public celebrations in several Iranian cities. Videos circulating online showed crowds chanting slogans such as “Death to the Islamic Republic” and “Long live the Shah.”
Footage from Besat Town, a suburb of Karaj, appeared to show residents celebrating in the streets. In London, videos showed expatriate Iranians and Israelis dancing together in apparent reaction to the news.
Former Israeli government spokesperson Eylon Levy posted a video on X claiming Iranian women were dancing without hair coverings after hearing of Khamenei’s death. Iranian activist and journalist Masih Alinejad also shared videos expressing disbelief and joy at the reports.
International Reactions
Exiled Iranian crown prince Reza Pahlavi urged Iranians to unite for a “stable transition to a free and prosperous future,” warning that any attempt by the regime to appoint a successor would be “doomed to fail.” He called on Iran’s military and security forces to support national transition efforts, stating that the Islamic Republic had effectively reached its end.
In the United States, House Republicans declared on X that “the lead architect of global terrorism is DEAD,” calling the world safer following Khamenei’s reported death.
US President Donald Trump described the development as “justice for the people of Iran” in a post on Truth Social, adding that “heavy and pinpoint bombing” would continue as necessary to achieve peace in the Middle East.
Former US Vice President Kamala Harris criticized the administration’s actions, accusing Trump of dragging the United States into a war the American people do not want and warning against a regime-change conflict in Iran.
Escalation and Uncertain Transition
Senior Israeli officials, according to The Jerusalem Post, were informed that Khamenei’s body had been recovered from the rubble following the airstrike. Meanwhile, Iran has reportedly retaliated with strikes targeting Israel and US assets in several Gulf states.
Security has been heightened across Iran, particularly in Tehran, amid concerns about unrest. Attention has now turned to the succession process. Under Iran’s constitution, the Assembly of Experts is responsible for selecting a new Supreme Leader. However, the power dynamics between the clerical establishment and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps are expected to shape the outcome significantly.
Khamenei’s death, portrayed by Iranian state media as the “Martyrdom of the Guardian,” marks the end of an era in the Islamic Republic. Whether it signals the beginning of systemic change or further instability remains uncertain, as the region braces for continued fallout from one of the most consequential developments in recent Middle Eastern history.
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