Ayatollah Ali Khamenei Killed in Tehran Strike, Iranian State Media Confirm

Iranian state media have reported that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed following what officials described as a joint United States–Israel strike in the Iranian capital, Tehran.

The official news agency IRNA confirmed the death and said several senior Iranian officials were also killed in the attack. Among those reported dead are Ali Shamkhani, a senior political advisor to the Supreme Leader and a key national security figure, and Mohammad Pakpour, Commander-in-Chief of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

Iranian state-affiliated outlets referred to Khamenei as a “martyr,” calling his death a significant loss for the nation. Earlier, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly claimed that Khamenei had been killed. Iranian authorities later issued formal confirmation through state media channels.

President Trump said Washington has a strategy prepared regarding Iran’s leadership transition and warned that additional military action could follow if necessary. Reports circulating in Iranian media also state that several members of Khamenei’s family were killed in the strike.

However, independent verification of those claims has not been publicly detailed. Iran has declared 40 days of national mourning. Security measures have been intensified in Tehran and other major cities.

Leadership Transition Process and Regional Escalation

Under Iran’s constitution, a leadership transition process has begun. Interim authority will be exercised by a council consisting of the president, the head of the judiciary, and a senior cleric from the Guardian Council until a new Supreme Leader is appointed.

Israel has described the operation as the start of a new phase of military action. Separate reports indicate retaliatory developments affecting parts of the Gulf region, including the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

The reported killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader marks a significant development in regional geopolitics. International reaction and further verification from independent sources remain closely watched.