U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that the United States would respond with “unprecedented force” if Iran carries out further attacks, as tensions escalate following reports that Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in a strike in Tehran.
In a post published Sunday on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said Iran had threatened to launch what he described as its “strongest attack yet.” He urged Iranian authorities not to proceed. “If they do, we will respond with a level of power never seen before,” Trump wrote.
Earlier, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said the United States and Israel would “pay the price” for the attack carried out in Tehran, according to Iranian media reports. Multiple international media outlets reported that Khamenei was killed following a joint U.S.–Israeli airstrike near his residence in the Iranian capital.
The reports said explosions occurred close to his home, causing significant damage to surrounding buildings. Some outlets also reported that several members of his family were killed. Iranian authorities had initially stated that Khamenei was safe. Independent verification of the reported deaths has not been publicly detailed.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the objective of the military operation was to bring about changes in Iran’s leadership structure. Trump also released a video message calling on the Iranian people to take control of their country’s future.
Khamenei had led Iran since 1989. Following the reports of his death, questions have intensified over who would assume leadership in the Islamic Republic. Security has reportedly been tightened in several Iranian cities. While some foreign media outlets reported that certain groups of citizens reacted publicly, ongoing security concerns have kept many residents indoors.
The developments mark a significant moment in Middle East geopolitics, with global attention now focused on how relations between the United States, Israel, and Iran may evolve in the coming days.
