By Obinna Uballa
Iranian state television early Sunday confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, announcing the development in a sombre broadcast marked by archival footage and a black mourning banner.
A presenter read the announcement at about 5:00 a.m. local time (0130 GMT). The broadcast did not reference the massive United States-Israeli air strikes previously reported to have targeted his residence in Tehran.
Khamenei, 86, had served as Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, making him one of the longest-serving heads of state in the Middle East. He succeeded Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini and presided over more than three decades of political, military and religious authority in the Islamic Republic.
The New Diplomat had reported that both Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump had earlier declared that Khamenei was killed in air strikes, though there was no immediate confirmation from Tehran at the time of his remarks.
Posting on his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump wrote: “Khamenei, one of the most evil people in History, is dead.”
He described the reported killing as “Justice for the people of Iran” as well as for Americans and others around the world whom he accused Khamenei of harming.
The US president said the Iranian leader had been “unable to avoid our Intelligence and Highly Sophisticated Tracking Systems,” suggesting the strike was the result of coordinated military and intelligence efforts.
Trump also claimed that Khamenei’s death presented what he called the Iranian people’s “greatest chance” to “take back their country.”
In his statement, Trump asserted that members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), as well as other military and security forces, were reconsidering their positions.
“We are hearing that many of their IRGC, Military, and other Security and Police Forces no longer want to fight and are looking for Immunity from us,” he wrote.
He warned that continued resistance would be met with force, adding that bombing operations would continue “throughout the week or as long as necessary” to achieve what he described as peace in the Middle East.
Separately, Iranian media outlets reported that members of Khamenei’s family – including his daughter, son-in-law and granddaughter – were also killed in the strikes. Those reports have not been independently verified.
Observers say the confirmation of Khamenei’s death marks a historic turning point for Iran, raising urgent questions about succession and the country’s political future. Under Iran’s constitutional framework, the Assembly of Experts is responsible for appointing a new Supreme Leader, though analysts say the powerful IRGC is likely to play a decisive role in shaping the transition.
