Iran’s state media has confirmed that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Hosseini Khamenei, 86, has died following coordinated military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iranian territory, marking a dramatic escalation in a conflict that has engulfed the Middle East.
State television and official agencies announced early on Sunday that Khamenei was killed during the attacks, declaring a 40-day national mourning period and seven days of public holiday in his honour.
The joint US-Israeli offensive reportedly targeted key Iranian military infrastructure and leadership sites as part of a broader campaign aimed at degrading Tehran’s missile and nuclear capabilities.
Iranian forces have responded with missile and drone strikes across the region, including against Israeli and US bases, raising fears of wider regional conflict.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian denounced the killing as “a great crime” and vowed that avenging Khamenei’s death is a legitimate duty, signalling that tensions could continue to escalate.
Khamenei had led the Islamic Republic since 1989, holding ultimate authority over the government, military and judiciary. His death creates uncertainty about Iran’s political future and the balance of power in the Middle East.